Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To construct a nomogram diagnosis model for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) co-infection in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP).
METHODS Clinical data of 427 children with MPP admitted to the Children′s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from Jul. 2020 to Jul. 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The children were divided into a modeling group (n=299) and a validation group (n=128). The modeling group was further categorized into an MPP group (n=235) and an MPP co-infection group (n=64) based on EBV infection status. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for EBV co-infection in children with MPP, and a nomogram diagnosis model was constructed. The diagnostic value and clinical application value of the model were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA).
RESULTS The white blood cell count (WBC) in the MPP co-infection group was (12.37±2.32)×109/L, significantly higher than that in the MPP group (P < 0.05). Platelet count (PLT) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels were (197.95±32.85)×109/L and (102.58±13.74) g/L, respectively, lower than those in the MPP group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the MPP co-infection group exhibited higher proportions of fever duration ≥10 days, dyspnea and pleural effusion compared to the MPP group (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that WBC (OR=1.514), PLT (OR=0.970), Hb (OR=0.959), fever duration (OR=4.790), dyspnea (OR=3.777) and pleural effusion (OR=4.795) were significantly associated with EBV infection in children with MPP (P < 0.05). The nomogram demonstrated that when the total model score reached 219 points, the probability of EBV infection in children with MMP was 0.9. The areas under the ROC curve for the modeling group and validation group were 0.882 (95%CI: 0.836-0.927) and 0.943 (95%CI: 0.902-0.984), respectively, with sensitivities of 76.56% and 91.30%, respectively, and specificities of 82.55% and 85.71%, respectively. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed χ2=4.124, P=0.846 for the modeling group and χ2=4.203, P=0.838 for the validation group. DCA curve indicated high clinical application value of the model.
CONCLUSIONS WBC, PLT, Hb levels, fever duration, dyspnea and pleural effusion have diagnostic values for EBV co-infection in children with MPP. The nomogram model constructed based on these six factors demonstrates excellent diagnostic performance.