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Characteristics of children admitted to hospital with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in Canada in 2020
- Source :
- CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal. September 27, 2021, Vol. 193 Issue 38, pE1483, 11 p.
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Background: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Interpretation: 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.<br />As of Dec. 31, 2020, Canada had 581427 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. (1) Similar to other countries, most confirmed infections were in adults, in part because of initial testing [...]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 08203946
- Volume :
- 193
- Issue :
- 38
- Database :
- Gale General OneFile
- Journal :
- CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal
- Publication Type :
- Periodical
- Accession number :
- edsgcl.677132928
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.210053