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Risk factors for severe COVID-19 in hospitalized children in Canada: A national prospective study from March 2020-May

Daniel S Farrar1, Olivier Drouin2,3, Charlotte Moore Hepburn4,5

  • 1Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.

Lancet Regional Health. Americas
|August 8, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Children with technology dependence, obesity, neurologic, or pulmonary conditions face higher risks for severe COVID-19. These findings aid in prioritizing targeted therapies and vaccination strategies for pediatric populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Children with chronic conditions are vulnerable to severe COVID-19.
  • Limited data exists on specific risk factors and targeted therapies for pediatric COVID-19.
  • This study aimed to identify severe disease predictors in hospitalized Canadian children with COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify factors associated with severe COVID-19 disease in hospitalized children in Canada.
  • To inform targeted therapeutic interventions and vaccination strategies for at-risk pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • A national prospective study of hospitalized children with SARS-CoV-2 infection was conducted.
  • Data was collected via the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP) from April 2020 to May 2021.
  • Severe disease was defined for COVID-19-related hospitalizations, and risk factors were analyzed using multivariable Poisson regression.

Main Results:

  • Of 330 COVID-19-related hospitalizations, 29.7% experienced severe disease.
  • Children aged 2-4 and 12-17 years had higher severe disease rates.
  • Comorbidities linked to severe COVID-19 included technology dependence (aRR 2.01), obesity (aRR 1.90), neurologic conditions (aRR 1.84), and pulmonary conditions (aRR 1.63).

Conclusions:

  • Neurologic and pulmonary conditions, technology dependence, and obesity are significant risk factors for severe COVID-19 in children.
  • Findings support the need for targeted COVID-19 therapies and vaccination prioritization for these high-risk pediatric groups.
  • Continued surveillance and research are crucial for managing COVID-19 in children with comorbidities.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19ChildrenHospitalizationRisk factorsSARS-CoV-2Surveillance

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