Calibration of the paediatric index of mortality in UK paediatric intensive care units

Aim-To test a paediatric intensive care mortality prediction model for UK u se. Method-Prospective collection of data from consecutive admissions to five U K paediatric intensive care units (PICUs), representing a broad cross secti on of paediatric intensive care activity. A total of 7253 admissions were a nalysed using tests of the discrimination and calibration of the logistic r egression equation. Results-The model discriminated and calibrated well. The area under the ROC plot was 0.84 (95% CI 0.819 to 0.853). The standardised mortality ratio wa s 0.87 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.94). There was remarkable concordance in the perfo rmance of the paediatric index of mortality (PIM) within each PICU, and in the performance of the PICUs as assessed by PIM. Variation in the proportio n of admissions that were ventilated or transported from another hospital d id not affect the results. Conclusion-We recommend that UK PICUs use PIM for their routine audit needs . PIM is not affected by the standard of therapy after admission to PICU, t he information needed to calculate PIM is easy to collect, and the model is free.