Demographic, Clinical, and Laboratory Characteristics on Admission of 43 Episodes of ACS in 38 Children With SCD
| . | Dexamethasone Treatment n = 22 Episodes . | Placebo Treatment n = 21 Episodes . | P Value . |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | |||
| Mean | 6.7 | 5.7 | .4* |
| Range | 1.4-15 | 1.4-13 | |
| SD | 3.8 | 3.9 | |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 17 | 12 | .33† |
| Female | 5 | 9 | |
| Type of hemoglobinopathy | |||
| SS | 19 | 18 | |
| SC | 2 | 3 | |
| S β0-thalassemia | 1 | 0 | |
| Previous episodes of ACS | |||
| Mean | 2.7 | 3.7 | .33* |
| Range | 0-10 | 0-15 | |
| SD | 2.8 | 3.8 | |
| No. of patients with pain | 16 (73%) | 17 (81%) | .72† |
| Chest/shoulder | 12 | 9 | |
| Back | 2 | 2 | |
| Abdomen | 4 | 3 | |
| Other | 3 | 6 | |
| Hemoglobin concentration (g/dL) | |||
| Mean | 7.93 | 7.38 | .19* |
| Range | 5.3-11.4 | 5.6-10.4 | |
| SD | 1.48 | 1.23 | |
| Room air transcutaneous oxygen saturation (%) | |||
| Mean | 89.6 | 89.5 | .96* |
| Range | 70-98 | 57-100 | |
| SD | 6.5 | 9 | |
| Patients requiring supplemental oxygen | 13 (59%) | 15 (71%) | .60* |
| Chest radiograph findings | |||
| Single lobe involvement | 14 (64%) | 13 (62%) | .91† |
| Multiple-lobe involvement | 8 (38%) | 8 (38%) | |
| Previous SCD-related hospitalizations other than ACS | |||
| Mean | 3.6 | 2.3 | .19* |
| Range | 0-14 | 0-6 | |
| SD | 3.9 | 2.2 | |
| Duration of symptoms before admission (h) | |||
| Mean | 32 | 26 | .47* |
| Range | 11-112 | 12-120 | |
| SD | 24 | 30 | |
| Respiratory score | |||
| Mean | 1.43 | 1.43 | 1.0* |
| Range | 1-2 | 1-2 | |
| SD | 0.45 | 0.48 | |
| Fever | 19 (86%) | 17 (81%) | .70† |
| Expiratory wheezing | 3 (14%) | 4 (19%) | .70† |
| Patients requiring opioid therapy | 12 (54%) | 11 (52%) | .89* |
| . | Dexamethasone Treatment n = 22 Episodes . | Placebo Treatment n = 21 Episodes . | P Value . |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | |||
| Mean | 6.7 | 5.7 | .4* |
| Range | 1.4-15 | 1.4-13 | |
| SD | 3.8 | 3.9 | |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 17 | 12 | .33† |
| Female | 5 | 9 | |
| Type of hemoglobinopathy | |||
| SS | 19 | 18 | |
| SC | 2 | 3 | |
| S β0-thalassemia | 1 | 0 | |
| Previous episodes of ACS | |||
| Mean | 2.7 | 3.7 | .33* |
| Range | 0-10 | 0-15 | |
| SD | 2.8 | 3.8 | |
| No. of patients with pain | 16 (73%) | 17 (81%) | .72† |
| Chest/shoulder | 12 | 9 | |
| Back | 2 | 2 | |
| Abdomen | 4 | 3 | |
| Other | 3 | 6 | |
| Hemoglobin concentration (g/dL) | |||
| Mean | 7.93 | 7.38 | .19* |
| Range | 5.3-11.4 | 5.6-10.4 | |
| SD | 1.48 | 1.23 | |
| Room air transcutaneous oxygen saturation (%) | |||
| Mean | 89.6 | 89.5 | .96* |
| Range | 70-98 | 57-100 | |
| SD | 6.5 | 9 | |
| Patients requiring supplemental oxygen | 13 (59%) | 15 (71%) | .60* |
| Chest radiograph findings | |||
| Single lobe involvement | 14 (64%) | 13 (62%) | .91† |
| Multiple-lobe involvement | 8 (38%) | 8 (38%) | |
| Previous SCD-related hospitalizations other than ACS | |||
| Mean | 3.6 | 2.3 | .19* |
| Range | 0-14 | 0-6 | |
| SD | 3.9 | 2.2 | |
| Duration of symptoms before admission (h) | |||
| Mean | 32 | 26 | .47* |
| Range | 11-112 | 12-120 | |
| SD | 24 | 30 | |
| Respiratory score | |||
| Mean | 1.43 | 1.43 | 1.0* |
| Range | 1-2 | 1-2 | |
| SD | 0.45 | 0.48 | |
| Fever | 19 (86%) | 17 (81%) | .70† |
| Expiratory wheezing | 3 (14%) | 4 (19%) | .70† |
| Patients requiring opioid therapy | 12 (54%) | 11 (52%) | .89* |
*Student t-test for two independent groups.
Chi-square contingency table analysis or Fisher exact test.