The implications of platelet count changes during hospitalization in the disease management of paediatric patients with bronchiolitis

Abstract

Background

The objective of this study was to investigate the significance of the platelet count on admission and platelet count changes during hospitalization in paediatric patients with bronchiolitis.

Methods

Clinical data from 404 consecutive patients hospitalized for bronchiolitis were collected and compared after grouping according to the platelet count on admission and the delta platelet count during hospitalization (the platelet count 3–5 days after admission minus the platelet count on admission; Group A, delta platelet count < −50 × 10⁹/L; Group B, −50 × 10⁹/L ≤ delta platelet count ≤ 50 × 10⁹/L; Group C, delta platelet count > 50 × 10⁹/L).

Results

Thrombocytosis was found in 79 (19.6%) patients, while 325 (80.4%) patients had a normal platelet count on admission. There was no difference in disease severity between these two groups. Groups A, B and C comprised 57 (14.1%), 133 (32.9%) and 214 (53.0%) patients, respectively. The patients from Group A had longer periods of oxygen therapy and stay in the paediatric intensive care unit, and a greater frequency of mechanical ventilation than the patients from Group B or Group C (all p < .05). Notably, among all the patients, the delta platelet count negatively correlated with the numbers of days of oxygen therapy (r = −0.385, p < .001) and stay in the paediatric intensive care unit (r = −0.603, p < .001).

Conclusions

A decrease in the platelet count during hospitalization in paediatric patients with bronchiolitis may provide useful information for disease management.

Keywords:

• Platelet count
• bronchiolitis
• disease severity

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Shuxiang Li for her assistance with statistical analysis of the results.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 81900006, 81870006] and Special Support for the Diagnosis and Treatment Technology of Clinical Key Diseases in Suzhou [grant number 201809].