Treatment patterns and outcomes in children with infantile hemangiomas: A retrospective observational analysis

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to make use of real-world medical records to explore the clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of infantile hemangiomas in southeastern China. METHODS: This study applied a retrospective observational method using real-world data derived from the electronic medical records of the Foshan Women and Children Hospital, southeastern China dated between June 2014 and June 2019. RESULTS: A total of 2427 patients with infantile hemangiomas were recruited in this study, including 942 (38.8%) males and 1485 (61.2%) females. Among the participants, 620 (25.5%) were high-risk infantile hemangioma, 449 (18.5%) were medium risk, and 1358 (56.0%) were low risk. A total of 14 treatment patterns in clinical practice were identified. The top 3 treatment patterns in each group of risk levels were the same: laser therapy, a combination of laser therapy and topical timolol maleate, and topical timolol maleate. The outcomes of the top 3 treatment patterns were significantly (P < 0.05) different in each risk group. CONCLUSION: Among the top 3 treatment patterns, laser therapy or a combination of laser therapy and topical timolol maleate were more likely to have an “Excellent” outcome.