Risk factors for mortality from acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children under five years of age in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate risk factors for death from acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children in low- and middle-income countries.<h4>Design</h4>Systematic review and meta-analysis.<h4>Study selection</h4>Observational studies reporting on risk f...

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Main Authors: Michela Sonego, Maria Chiara Pellegrin, Genevieve Becker, Marzia Lazzerini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2015-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0116380
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author Michela Sonego
Maria Chiara Pellegrin
Genevieve Becker
Marzia Lazzerini
author_facet Michela Sonego
Maria Chiara Pellegrin
Genevieve Becker
Marzia Lazzerini
author_sort Michela Sonego
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate risk factors for death from acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children in low- and middle-income countries.<h4>Design</h4>Systematic review and meta-analysis.<h4>Study selection</h4>Observational studies reporting on risk factors for death from ALRI in children below five years in low- and middle income countries.<h4>Data sources</h4>Medline, Embase, Global Health Library, Lilacs, and Web of Science to January 2014.<h4>Risk of bias assessment</h4>Quality In Prognosis Studies tool with minor adaptations to assess the risk of bias; funnel plots and Egger's test to evaluate publication bias.<h4>Results</h4>Out of 10,655 papers retrieved, 77 studies from 39 countries (198,359 children) met the inclusion criteria. Host and disease characteristics more strongly associated with ALRI mortality were: diagnosis of very severe pneumonia as per WHO definition (odds ratio 9.42, 95% confidence interval 6.37‒13.92); age below two months (5.22, 1.70‒16.03); diagnosis of Pneumocystis Carinii (4.79, 2.67‒8.61), chronic underlying diseases (4.76, 3.27‒6.93); HIV/AIDS (4.68, 3.72‒5.90); and severe malnutrition (OR 4.27, 3.47‒5.25). Socio-economic and environmental factors significantly associated with increased odds of death from ALRI were: young maternal age (1.84, 1.03‒3.31); low maternal education (1.43, 1.13‒1.82); low socio-economic status (1.62, 1.32‒2.00); second-hand smoke exposure (1.52, 1.20 to 1.93); indoor air pollution (3.02, 2.11‒4.31). Immunisation (0.46, 0.36‒0.58) and good antenatal practices (0.50, 0.31‒0.81) were associated with decreased odds of death.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Host and disease characteristics as well as socio-economic and environmental determinants affect the risk of death from ALRI in children. Together with the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, interventions to modify underlying risk factors such as poverty, lack of female education, and poor environmental conditions, should be considered among the strategies to reduce ALRI mortality in children in low- and middle-income countries.
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spelling doaj-art-864daa1cdaa245589151c604bb4c9cc02025-08-20T03:49:59ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-01101e011638010.1371/journal.pone.0116380Risk factors for mortality from acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children under five years of age in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.Michela SonegoMaria Chiara PellegrinGenevieve BeckerMarzia Lazzerini<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate risk factors for death from acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children in low- and middle-income countries.<h4>Design</h4>Systematic review and meta-analysis.<h4>Study selection</h4>Observational studies reporting on risk factors for death from ALRI in children below five years in low- and middle income countries.<h4>Data sources</h4>Medline, Embase, Global Health Library, Lilacs, and Web of Science to January 2014.<h4>Risk of bias assessment</h4>Quality In Prognosis Studies tool with minor adaptations to assess the risk of bias; funnel plots and Egger's test to evaluate publication bias.<h4>Results</h4>Out of 10,655 papers retrieved, 77 studies from 39 countries (198,359 children) met the inclusion criteria. Host and disease characteristics more strongly associated with ALRI mortality were: diagnosis of very severe pneumonia as per WHO definition (odds ratio 9.42, 95% confidence interval 6.37‒13.92); age below two months (5.22, 1.70‒16.03); diagnosis of Pneumocystis Carinii (4.79, 2.67‒8.61), chronic underlying diseases (4.76, 3.27‒6.93); HIV/AIDS (4.68, 3.72‒5.90); and severe malnutrition (OR 4.27, 3.47‒5.25). Socio-economic and environmental factors significantly associated with increased odds of death from ALRI were: young maternal age (1.84, 1.03‒3.31); low maternal education (1.43, 1.13‒1.82); low socio-economic status (1.62, 1.32‒2.00); second-hand smoke exposure (1.52, 1.20 to 1.93); indoor air pollution (3.02, 2.11‒4.31). Immunisation (0.46, 0.36‒0.58) and good antenatal practices (0.50, 0.31‒0.81) were associated with decreased odds of death.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Host and disease characteristics as well as socio-economic and environmental determinants affect the risk of death from ALRI in children. Together with the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, interventions to modify underlying risk factors such as poverty, lack of female education, and poor environmental conditions, should be considered among the strategies to reduce ALRI mortality in children in low- and middle-income countries.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0116380
spellingShingle Michela Sonego
Maria Chiara Pellegrin
Genevieve Becker
Marzia Lazzerini
Risk factors for mortality from acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children under five years of age in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
PLoS ONE
title Risk factors for mortality from acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children under five years of age in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
title_full Risk factors for mortality from acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children under five years of age in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
title_fullStr Risk factors for mortality from acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children under five years of age in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
title_full_unstemmed Risk factors for mortality from acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children under five years of age in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
title_short Risk factors for mortality from acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children under five years of age in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
title_sort risk factors for mortality from acute lower respiratory infections alri in children under five years of age in low and middle income countries a systematic review and meta analysis of observational studies
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0116380
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