Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses
Published on: November 10, 2023
Clinical Features and Outcomes of Pediatric and Adult Patients Hospitalized for Coronavirus Disease 2019: A
Grace X Li1, Komal Gopchandani1, Noah Brazer2,3
1Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Insights
COVID-19 outcomes varied by age. Children had lower odds of severe outcomes like oxygen need and death compared to adults. Adolescents and middle-aged adults faced the highest risks within their groups.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatric Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to pose a significant threat, causing hospitalizations and severe illness in both children and adults.
- Understanding age-specific differences in COVID-19 severity is crucial for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare risk factors, symptoms, and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalization in children versus adults.
- To analyze age strata within pediatric and adult populations to identify specific risk groups.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study of 1560 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between March 2020 and May 2023 across 5 US sites.
- Utilized data from the Predicting Viral-Associated Inflammatory Disease Severity in Children with Laboratory Diagnostics and Artificial Intelligence (VIDA) consortium.
- Compared clinical outcomes using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) across pediatric (0-21 years) and adult (22-105 years) groups, and within specific age strata.
Main Results:
- Children (n=885) were less vaccinated, more frequently infected with Omicron, and had fewer comorbidities than adults (n=675).
- Children had significantly lower odds of requiring supplemental oxygen (aOR=0.57) and death (aOR=0.011) compared to adults.
- Within pediatric groups, adolescents (12-17 years) showed the highest odds of requiring supplemental oxygen, high-flow oxygen, and ICU admission.
- Among adults, those aged 50-64 years had the highest odds of mechanical ventilation and ICU admission.
Conclusions:
- Clinical outcomes for COVID-19 demonstrate significant differences across pediatric and adult age groups.
- Adolescents represent the most vulnerable pediatric group, while adults aged 50-64 years exhibit the highest severity among adult populations.
- These findings highlight the need for age-tailored approaches in managing and preventing severe COVID-19.
Background:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to cause hospitalizations and severe disease in children and adults.
Methods:
This study compared the risk factors, symptoms, and outcomes of children and adults hospitalized for COVID-19 from March 2020 to May 2023 across age strata at 5 US sites participating in the Predicting Viral-Associated Inflammatory Disease Severity in Children with Laboratory Diagnostics and Artificial Intelligence consortium. Eligible patients had an upper respiratory swab that tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 by nucleic acid amplification. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of clinical outcomes were determined for children versus adults, for pediatric age strata compared to adolescents (12-17 years), and for adult age strata compared to young adults (22-49 years).
Results:
Of 9101 patients in the Predicting Viral-Associated Inflammatory Disease Severity in Children with Laboratory Diagnostics and Artificial Intelligence cohort, 1560 were hospitalized for COVID-19 as the primary reason. Compared to adults (22-105 years, n = 675), children (0-21 years, n = 885) were less commonly vaccinated (14.3% vs 34.5%), more commonly infected with the Omicron variant (49.5% vs 26.1%) and had fewer comorbidities (P < .001 for most comparisons), except for lung disease (P = .24). After adjusting for confounding variables, children had significantly lower odds of receiving supplemental oxygen (aOR, 0.57; 95% confidence interval, .35-.92) and death (aOR, 0.011; 95% confidence interval, <.01-.58) compa--red to adults. Among pediatric age strata, adolescents 12-17 years had the highest odds of receiving supplemental oxygen, high-flow oxygen, and ICU admission. Among adults, those 50-64 years had the highest odds of mechanical ventilation and ICU admission.
Conclusions:
Clinical outcomes of COVID-19 differed across pediatric and adult age strata. Adolescents experienced the most severe disease among children, whereas adults 50-64 years experienced the most severe disease among adults.
More Related Videos
08:05Lung CT Segmentation to Identify Consolidations and Ground Glass Areas for Quantitative Assesment of SARS-CoV Pneumonia
Published on: December 19, 2020
09:03Nasal Brushing Sampling and Processing Using Digital High Speed Ciliary Videomicroscopy – Adaptation for the COVID-19 Pandemic
Published on: November 7, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:21Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
01:21Acute Respiratory Failure-I
Definition: It is defined by specific criteria based on blood gas measurements. Hypoxemia happens when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) falls below 60 mmHg. At the same time,...
01:30Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
01:29Acute Respiratory Failure-V
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...