International Pediatric COVID-19 Severity Over the Course of the Pandemic

Abstract

ImportanceMultiple SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged over the COVID-19 pandemic. The implications for COVID-19 severity in children worldwide are unclear.ObjectiveTo determine whether the dominant circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) were associated with differences in COVID-19 severity among hospitalized children.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsClinical data from hospitalized children and adolescents (younger than 18 years) who were SARS-CoV-2 positive were obtained from 9 countries (Australia, Brazil, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, UK, and the US) during 3 different time frames. Time frames 1 (T1), 2 (T2), and 3 (T3) were defined to represent periods of dominance by the ancestral virus, pre-Omicron VOCs, and Omicron, respectively. Age groups for analysis were younger than 6 months, 6 months to younger than 5 years, and 5 to younger than 18 years. Children with an incidental positive test result for SARS-CoV-2 were excluded.ExposuresSARS-CoV-2 hospitalization during the stipulated time frame.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe severity of disease was assessed by admission to intensive care unit (ICU), the need for ventilatory support, or oxygen therapy.ResultsAmong 31 785 hospitalized children and adolescents, the median age was 4 (IQR 1-12) years and 16 639 were male (52.3%). In children younger than 5 years, across successive SARS-CoV-2 waves, there was a reduction in ICU admission (T3 vs T1: risk ratio [RR], 0.56; 95% CI, 0.42-0.75 [younger than 6 months]; RR, 0.61, 95% CI; 0.47-0.79 [6 months to younger than 5 years]), but not ventilatory support or oxygen therapy. In contrast, ICU admission (T3 vs T1: RR, 0.39, 95% CI, 0.32-0.48), ventilatory support (T3 vs T1: RR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.27-0.51), and oxygen therapy (T3 vs T1: RR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.32-0.70) decreased across SARS-CoV-2 waves in children 5 years to younger than 18 years old. The results were consistent when data were restricted to unvaccinated children.Conclusions and RelevanceThis study provides valuable insights into the impact of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs on the severity of COVID-19 in hospitalized children across different age groups and countries, suggesting that while ICU admissions decreased across the pandemic in all age groups, ventilatory and oxygen support generally did not decrease over time in children aged younger than 5 years. These findings highlight the importance of considering different pediatric age groups when assessing disease severity in COVID-19.

Return to Play after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Focus on the Pediatric Population with Potential Heart Involvement

“…Later, when more information regarding heart damage incidence and severity in COVID-19 patients was collected, less restrictive recommendations were prepared. They included, together with athletes, adults, adolescents, and children practicing non-professional sporting and physical activity of different intensity [20]. A problem raised by some experts was whether specific rules should be prepared for pediatric subjects who, in general, practice less intense physical activity than adults, especially professional athletes [21,22].…”