Increased Frequency of Acute Illness and Hospitalizations in Infants and Toddlers with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Purpose Infants and toddlers with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are at high risk for adrenal crisis and associated sequelae. To better understand acute illness at this early age, we determined the frequency and severity of acute illness and hospitalizations between 0-4 years of age, both within CAH and compared to controls. We also evaluated the impact of pre-hospital stress-dose hydrocortisone on Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. Methods We performed a retrospective study of 40 CAH youth and 27 age-matched controls at a tertiary center. Characteristics of acute illnesses during the first 4 years of life were recorded, including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, ED visits, hospitalizations, abnormal electrolytes, and stress-dose hydrocortisone usage. Results CAH youth had more frequent illnesses requiring stress-dosing when they were younger than 2 years old [4.0 (1.0-6.0)] compared to when they were 2-4 years old [3.0 (1.0-4.0), P < 0.05], with the most illnesses during their first year of life. As well, CAH infants and toddlers had more hospitalizations younger than 2 years old compared to 2-4 years old (36 vs 2). 25% (3/12) of CAH youth with abnormal electrolytes in the ED did not receive any stress-dosing (oral/IM) prior to the ED, and only 25% (3/12) had received intramuscular hydrocortisone at home. CAH youth had more frequent ED visits (7.4 times as many) and hospitalizations (38 to 0) compared to controls. Conclusions Very young children with classical CAH are at high risk for acute illness and hospitalizations during their first 2 years of life, and do not receive adequate stress-dosing prior to the ED despite appropriate education. Our findings underscore the need for earlier recognition of acute illness in this vulnerable population and improved education regarding administration of stress-dose hydrocortisone to prevent morbidity. ### Competing Interest Statement Mitchell E. Geffner receives consultant fees from Daiichi Sankyo, Ferring, Millendo Therapeutics, Novo Nordisk, Nutrition & Growth Solutions, Pfizer, Sandoz, and Tolmar. Mitchell E. Geffner also receives royalties from McGraw-Hill and UpToDate, and serves on data safety monitoring boards for Ascendis, Millendo, and Tolmar. ### Funding Statement K23HD084735 (NIH/NICHD) to M.S.K., Abell Foundation to M.E.G., and the Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation Award to A.S. ### Author Declarations All relevant ethical guidelines have been followed and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes All necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived. Yes Any clinical trials involved have been registered with an ICMJE-approved registry such as ClinicalTrials.gov and the trial ID is included in the manuscript. Not Applicable I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant Equator, ICMJE or other checklist(s) as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes The data availability via the primary investigator would require IRB approval for data-sharing.