Hospitalizations for rheumatological pediatrics diseases in Chile

Abstract

Introduction: There is little epidemiological information on pediatric rheumatic diseases (PRD) in Chile. Objectives: To analyze hospitalizations due to PRD in pediatric patients in Chile between 2001 and 2019. Material and Methods: Using the national hospital discharge database we performed a descriptive analysis of hospitalizations of patients < 18 years with a PRD diagnosis according to ICD-10 codes. Results: Between 2001 and 2019, there were 29,854 hospitalizations due to PRD (0.46% of all pediatric hospitalizations). The national hospitalization rate for PRD was 3.18 per 10,000 inhabitants < 18 years of age. 52% were women. The average age was 7.91 ± 5 years. The length of stay had a median of 3 days. The PRD with the highest number of hospitalizations was IgA vasculitis. There were 36 deaths (0.1% lethality), where 44% (n = 16) had a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). 63.4% of hospitalizations occurred in the Metropolitan Region and central zone of the country and 81.8% had public health insurance. Conclusions: Hospitalization rates due to PRD in Chile are low and the main cause is IgA. vasculitis. Despite having a low overall mortality, the main cause of death in children hospitalized for a PRD was SLE.