Factors Associated with Mortality in Children with Congenital Heart Disease and Cerebral Abscess

BACKGROUND: In children, a cerebral abscess is a rare yet life-threatening condition. Children account for about 25% of all cerebral abscess cases in the general population. One of the most common predisposing factors for developing a cerebral abscess with increased mortality risk is congenital heart disease (CHD). AIM: This study aims to determine the prevalence of death and factors associated with death in children with CHD and cerebral abscesses. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional design which collects retrospective data. Secondary data of CHD patients with cerebral abscesses were retrieved from patients’ medical records. RESULTS: From January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2021, a total of 107 children with a history of CHD were diagnosed with cerebral abscesses during this study. Thus, mortality rates in cases with cerebral abscess were 38.3% in children with a history of CHD. Patients with a focal infection in the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) area have a 3.6 times higher risk of dying than those with a focal infection elsewhere (odds ratio [OR] = 3.6 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.57–8.32, p = 0.004). Patients who did not have neurosurgery had a 2.5- fold increased risk of death than those who did (OR = 2.5, 95% CI, 1.11–5.96, p < 0.05). Nutritional status, anemia status, and culture results, which were anticipated to be linked with death in CHD children with cerebral abscess, were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: We conclude that this study provides an overview of the prevalence of mortality and variables related to death in incidents of cerebral abscess in children with CHD in Indonesia.