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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with medical complexity

Catherine Diskin1, Francine Buchanan2, Eyal Cohen3

  • 1Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of TorontoThe Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada. catherine.diskin@sickkids.ca.

BMC Pediatrics
|August 23, 2022
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted children with medical complexity (CMC) through healthcare disruptions, but also offered benefits like increased virtual care. Collaboration is needed to optimize care for these vulnerable children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Healthcare Policy

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has had indirect consequences on children's health.
  • Emerging data highlights the need to understand these impacts, particularly for children with medical complexity (CMC).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the multifaceted impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with medical complexity (CMC) and their families in Canada.

Main Methods:

  • A national survey of Canadian pediatricians was conducted in Spring 2021 via the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP).
  • The survey collected data on adverse health outcomes, healthcare disruptions, and perceived benefits for CMC during the pandemic.

Main Results:

  • Of 784 respondents, 70% cared for CMC. Adverse health outcomes were reported by 12.4% due to healthcare disruptions.
  • Disruptions in medication supply (11.9%), family caregiving (47.5%), and homecare (40.8%) were significant.
  • Benefits included increased virtual care access and reduced respiratory illness for some CMC (47%), while 14.4% faced exclusion from in-person learning.

Conclusions:

  • Canadian pediatricians reported adverse health outcomes and care disruptions for CMC during the pandemic.
  • The expansion of virtual care emerged as a notable benefit.
  • Collaboration among policymakers, healthcare providers, and families is crucial to enhance health outcomes for CMC.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemicChildren with medical complexityImpacts

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