Epidemiology of Drowning Incidents among Children at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital Oman

Abstract

Objectives: We sought to study the epidemiology of drowning among children reported at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Oman. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of the patients who presented to the emergency department with a history of drowning over 10 years from January 2008 to December 2017. Patients with children aged one to 18 years old were included in the study. The data including demographics, timing and location of drowning, season, adult supervision, swimming ability, medical risk factors, duration of submersion, on spot resuscitation, emergency medicine department assessment, and hospital management and outcome were collected from electronic hospital information system using a preformed proforma. The outcome was categorized into either full recovery, severe neurological injury, or brain death based on the pediatric cerebral performance category (PCPC). A good outcome represents a score of 1–3 points, and a PCPC of 4–6 points corresponds to a poor outcome. We calculated correlation for all variables with the outcome by using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. A p-value of 10 minutes, asystole, Glasgow Coma Scale 20, blood glucose > 10 mmol/L, abnormal chest X-ray findings, rewarming, CPR, intubation, inotropic support, and pediatric intensive care unit admission. Conclusions: Our study suggests that children, especially males under the age of six with no swimming ability, need strict supervision next to bodies of water. Furthermore, preventive measures might include raising community awareness about the risk factors of drowning, commencing public CPR lessons, and strict pool safety regulation by related authorities.

Keywords

• drowning
• emergency medicine
• intensive care units
• pediatrics
• oman