[Prevalence of genetic diseases in admissions to a tertiary care hospital pediatric service].

Background: With the epidemiological changes, the role of genetic factors as a cause of morbidity and mortality is increasing, changing disease patterns of patients admitted to pediatric hospitals.

Aim: To describe the prevalence of genetic diseases (GD) in patients admitted to a tertiary-care hospital Pediatric Service.

Material And Methods: The clinical records of consecutive admissions to a Pediatric Service of a clinical hospital in 2011 were reviewed. Two categories were assigned: with GD and without GD. Both groups were compared according to days of hospitalization, type of admission, readmissions and mortality.

Results: We reviewed the 98.1% of the 1,781 total annual admissions (1,459 cases), 322 of them were readmissions (187 cases). The mean age at admission was 54.8 ± 54 months and 55% were male. The mean hospitalization length was 4.9 ± 10 days. Of total admissions and individual cases, 52.7% (938/1,781) and 48% (705/1,459) were cases with GD, respectively. Within this group, 85% (597/705) were sub-categorized as having a significant genetic base. The differences between gender, age average income and hospital mortality were not significant between the two categories. Readmissions were more common for GD than for patients without GD (Odds ratio (OR): 2.6, confidence intervals (CI): 1.9-3.6). Average hospital stay was 27% higher among GD patients (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Our findings confirm the high prevalence of GD in pediatric hospitals (52.7%), with a higher risk for readmission in cases with GD compared with those without GD.