Oxy-PICU Neurodevelopmental Follow-up Study

Background to the research: Each year around 20,000 children are admitted to paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in the UK. Of these children, ~75% will receive support from a breathing machine (or ventilator) in combination with additional oxygen. We recently completed the NIHR funded Oxy-PICU randomised clinical trial (RCT) - a study that compares one treatment against another to determine which is best. The Oxy-PICU RCT investigated whether children in PICU who are receiving help from a ventilator with additional oxygen, should have their oxygen levels kept at a lower level or higher level which currently used in the NHS. We found that aiming for lower oxygen levels was better and resulted in a small but significant reduction in the number of days children spent on machines or died at 30 days.

While small, this result would have a large and important impact for patients and their families and may have important cost savings for the NHS. However, while in the short-term targeting lower oxygen levels appears better, the effects on children's longer-term development are unknown. Knowing this is important to fully inform doctors and nurses about the effects of aiming for lower oxygen levels, and help the results of Oxy-PICU be applied throughout the NHS.

Aim of the research: This research aims to complete longer-term follow-up of children included in the Oxy-PICU RCT. We will look at the effect of aiming for lower oxygen levels compared to higher oxygen levels on longer-term developmental milestones.

Research plan: We will invite 1,112 parents of children included in the Oxy-PICU RCT by email and post to take part. We will arrange a telephone interview with the parent(s) who agree to participate. A trained researcher will use standard questionnaires to measure important issues. They'll establish if the children are meeting their developmental milestones and learn about their health related quality of life. After the interview we will provide a report to the parents detailing their child's development. We anticipate 50% of those approached will agree to take part in this study. This will allow us to detect important differences in developmental milestones in children treated with lower oxygen levels.

Patient and public involvement: PPI has been essential throughout Oxy-PICU. Our PPI co-applicant has been involved in Oxy-PICU from the start as a key member of the study team and will continue to help oversee all aspects of this research. We will also appoint a parent advisory group to provide additional PPI input into the study processes.

Knowledge mobilisation: Outputs from the neurodevelopmental follow-up will be specifically targeted to the key stakeholders including patients/parents, clinicians and policy makers. Outputs for patients/parents and the public will be co-produced with our PPI representatives.