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Factors Associated With Severe Illness in Patients Aged <21 Years Hospitalized for COVID-19.
- Source :
-
Hospital pediatrics [Hosp Pediatr] 2022 Sep 01; Vol. 12 (9), pp. 760-783. - Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Objectives: To describe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related pediatric hospitalizations during a period of B.1.617.2 (Δ) variant predominance and to determine age-specific factors associated with severe illness.<br />Methods: We abstracted data from medical charts to conduct a cross-sectional study of patients aged <21 years hospitalized at 6 United States children's hospitals from July to August 2021 for COVID-19 or with an incidental positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 test. Among patients with COVID-19, we assessed factors associated with severe illness by calculating age-stratified prevalence ratios (PR). We defined severe illness as receiving high-flow nasal cannula, positive airway pressure, or invasive mechanical ventilation.<br />Results: Of 947 hospitalized patients, 759 (80.1%) had COVID-19, of whom 287 (37.8%) had severe illness. Factors associated with severe illness included coinfection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (PR 3.64) and bacteria (PR 1.88) in infants; RSV coinfection in patients aged 1 to 4 years (PR 1.96); and obesity in patients aged 5 to 11 (PR 2.20) and 12 to 17 years (PR 2.48). Having ≥2 underlying medical conditions was associated with severe illness in patients aged <1 (PR 1.82), 5 to 11 (PR 3.72), and 12 to 17 years (PR 3.19).<br />Conclusions: Among patients hospitalized for COVID-19, factors associated with severe illness included RSV coinfection in those aged <5 years, obesity in those aged 5 to 17 years, and other underlying conditions for all age groups <18 years. These findings can inform pediatric practice, risk communication, and prevention strategies, including vaccination against COVID-19.<br /> (Copyright © 2022 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2154-1671
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Hospital pediatrics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 35670605
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1542/hpeds.2022-006613