Association between caregiver concern for clinical deterioration and critical illness in children presenting to hospital: a prospective cohort study (July 2025)

Summary

In high-income countries, critical illness in children is rare, and often difficult for physicians to distinguish from common minor illness until late in the disease. Parents or caregivers are well positioned to detect early and subtle signs of deterioration, but the relationship between their concerns and patient outcomes is unknown.

This study examined the relationship between documented caregiver concern about clinical deterioration and critical illness in children presenting to hospital. It found that caregiver concern for clinical deterioration is associated with critical illness in paediatric patients and, after adjusting for variables including abnormal vital signs, had a strong association with ICU admission and mechanical ventilation. Rapid response systems should incorporate proactive assessment of parent or caregiver concerns for deterioration.