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The Association between Somatotropin Therapy and the Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children with Short Stature: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.
- Source :
-
Children (Basel, Switzerland) [Children (Basel)] 2022 Nov 28; Vol. 9 (12). Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Nov 28. - Publication Year :
- 2022
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Abstract
- COVID-19 is a worldwide pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, to which adults are usually more susceptible than children. Growth hormone (GH) levels differ between children and adults and decrease with age. There is bidirectional crosstalk between the GH/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) pathway and the immune system that plays a significant role in SARS-CoV-2 infection. We evaluated the association between somatotropin treatment (GH replacement therapy) and the risk for SARS-CoV-2 positivity (a marker for COVID-19 infection) in children with growth hormone issues (GHI): growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and idiopathic short stature (ISS). A population-based cross-sectional study in Leumit Health Services (LHS) was performed using the electronic health record (EHR) database. The rates of SARS-CoV-2 positivity were evaluated among children with GHI, treated or untreated with somatotropin. Higher rates of SARS-CoV-2 positivity were found in GHI children, influenced by the same confounders reported in the pediatric population. A lower prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity was found among the somatotropin-treated children. A multivariate analysis documented that somatotropin treatment was associated with a reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 positivity (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.47, Confidence Interval (CI) 0.24-0.94, p = 0.032). Thus, somatotropin might be a protective factor against SARS-CoV-2 infections, possibly related to its immunomodulatory activity.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2227-9067
- Volume :
- 9
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Children (Basel, Switzerland)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 36553288
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/children9121844