Oliveira-Sena and Werneck identified risk factors for in-hospital mortality for a patient with visceral leishmaniasis. These can help to identify a patient who may benefit from more aggressive management. The authors are from Escola Nacional de Saude Publica Sergio Arouca and Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Patient selection: hospitalized patient with visceral leishmaniasis
Outcome: in-hospital mortality
Risk factors for mortality from the multivariate analysis:
(1) age >= 60 years of age (OR 23.1); age 35-39 years (OR 6.88), age 15-34 years (OR 3.94)
(2) vomiting (OR 8.51)
(3) edema (OR 6.81)
(4) diarrhea (OR 6.66)
(5) platelet count < 50,000 per microliter (OR 4.97)
(6) jaundice (OR 3.22)
(7) splenomegaly (OR 9.64)
Additional findings seen in patients who die while hospitalized:
(1) pneumonia
(2) weakness
(3) bleeding episodes
(4) hepatomegaly
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