The number of pediatric hospital admissions due to COVID-19 in England appears alarming, according to recently published figures.
A study published in british medical journal Hospitalizations associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in pediatric patients in England are revealed. Focused on understanding COVID-19 outcomes and risk factors, the study provides valuable insights into the impact of hospitalization on children.
Although pediatric hospitalizations due to SARS-CoV-2 are rare, the study highlights the high infection rate in children, especially those with underlying comorbidities that make them more vulnerable to severe outcomes from COVID-19. Notably, vaccination rates in the pediatric population remain low, adding to concerns.
This comprehensive national retrospective cohort study analyzed electronic medical record data for 12 million pediatric residents in England between September 2021 and April 2022. The study looked at various factors, including initial COVID-19-associated hospitalization, SARS-CoV-2 where a contributing factor was sporadic COVID-19 cases, and hospital-acquired or nosocomially acquired COVID-19.
The researchers analyzed the findings using multiple datasets, including laboratory-based SARS-CoV-2 testing information, primary care data, and hospital records. Study periods were stratified according to the different periods in which different variants dominated.
Of 3,226,535 pediatric patients with primary SARS-CoV-2 infection, 0.9% required hospitalization. The median length of hospital stay was two days, with 6% of COVID-19-related hospitalizations requiring intensive care and 4.3% attributed to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The study reported 70 deaths related to SARS-CoV-2 infection or MIS-C, most of which occurred in individuals hospitalized with COVID-19.
The study found that SARS-CoV-2 was a cause or contributory factor in 72% of hospitalized patients, including 1.3% who contracted COVID-19 in a healthcare setting. Male participants, children under five, ethnic minorities, and individuals living in areas of high poverty were more likely to be hospitalized.
The study also looked at the impact of England’s COVID-19 vaccination program, identifying specific medical conditions associated with a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2-related hospitalization. News information Medical. While 38 percent of hospitalized patients had a documented medical condition, 16 percent had a developmental or medical health condition not listed in the plan.
During the dominance of the omicron variant, the proportion of pediatric patients with severe infection dropped to 0.9%, compared with 2% during the early variant and 0.7% during the Delta variant. Notably, this decline was attributed to a decline in MIS-C diagnoses.
However, the study revealed a significant increase in pediatric hospitalizations during the dominance of the delta and omicron variants compared to earlier periods. The most severe cases occur in patients hospitalized with MIS-C, a large proportion of whom require intensive care and prolonged hospital stays. In addition, a large proportion of hospitalized patients, especially those in intensive care, are not vaccinated.
Overall, the study provides important insights into pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations, including risk factors, impact of vaccination, and severity of cases over time. The findings underscore the importance of vaccination efforts and the importance of further understanding the long-term impact of COVID-19 on children.
Published by Medicaldaily.com