Developing a core outcome set for children with protracted bacterial bronchitis.

Gilchrist

Abstract

Background: Protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) is a chronic endobrochial infection and a leading cause of chronic wet cough in children. There is an urgent need for a randomised controlled trial to investigate the optimal treatment but there is no core outcome set (COS) to inform choice of outcomes. A COS is a standardised set of outcomes representing the minimum that should be measured and reported in clinical trials of a specific condition. We have developed a COS for PBB. Methods: Potential core outcomes were collated from a systematic review, interviews with parents and a clinician survey. A two-round Delphi survey of healthcare professionals identified which outcomes had consensus for inclusion. The final COS was agreed at a consensus meeting of parent representatives and clinicians. Results: 20 outcomes were identified for the Delphi survey. After two rounds, 10 reached consensus. These were combined and edited at the consensus meeting into the final six: 1) Resolution of cough assessed using a cough score/diary recorded daily by parent(s) during treatment; 2) relapse of chronic wet cough and/or cumulative antibiotic treatment during =12 months follow-up; 3) change in child's quality of life (parent-proxy reporting for young children); 4) emergence of antibiotic resistance; 5) development of bronchiectasis diagnosed on clinically indicated computed tomography scans; and 6) microbiological clearance of identified respiratory pathogen if samples readily available. Conclusions: We have developed a COS for PBB which will reduce the outcome heterogeneity and bias of future clinical trials, as well as promoting comparison between studies.

Citation

Gilchrist. (2020). Developing a core outcome set for children with protracted bacterial bronchitis. ERJ Open Research, https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00344-2019

• Acceptance Date: Dec 12, 2019
• Publication Date: Feb 10, 2020
• Journal: ERJ Open Research
• Publisher: European Respiratory Society
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00344-2019
• Keywords: protraced bacterial bronchitis
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00344-2019