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Characteristics of children admitted to hospital with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in Canada in 2020.
- Source :
-
Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) . 9/27/2021, Vol. 193 Issue 38, pE1483-E1493. 11p. 6 Charts, 1 Graph. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>Risk factors for severe outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection are not well established in children. We sought to describe pediatric hospital admissions associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Canada and identify risk factors for more severe disease.<bold>Methods: </bold>We conducted a national prospective study using the infrastructure of the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP). Cases involving children who were admitted to hospital with microbiologically confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were reported from Apr. 8 to Dec. 31 2020, through weekly online questionnaires distributed to the CPSP network of more than 2800 pediatricians. We categorized hospital admissions as related to COVID-19, incidental, or for social or infection control reasons and determined risk factors for disease severity in hospital.<bold>Results: </bold>Among 264 hospital admissions involving children with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the 9-month study period, 150 (56.8%) admissions were related to COVID-19 and 100 (37.9%) were incidental infections (admissions for other reasons and found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 on screening). Infants (37.3%) and adolescents (29.6%) represented most cases. Among hospital admissions related to COVID-19, 52 (34.7%) had critical disease, 42 (28.0%) of whom required any form of respiratory or hemodynamic support, and 59 (39.3%) had at least 1 underlying comorbidity. Children with obesity, chronic neurologic conditions or chronic lung disease other than asthma were more likely to have severe or critical COVID-19.<bold>Interpretation: </bold>Among children who were admitted to hospital with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Canada during the early COVID-19 pandemic period, incidental SARS-CoV-2 infection was common. In children admitted with acute COVID-19, obesity and neurologic and respiratory comorbidities were associated with more severe disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- Volume :
- 193
- Issue :
- 38
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 152763781
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.210053