AUTHOR=Driansky Allison , Pilapil Mariecel , Bianco Kristina , Steinway Caren , Feigenbaum Sheri , Yang Anna , Jan Sophia 

TITLE=Caring for Children With Medical Complexity in the Early COVID-19 Pandemic in an Ambulatory Primary Care Setting

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.813393

DOI=10.3389/fped.2022.813393

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>Children with medical complexity (CMC) have multiple chronic conditions and require a high level of coordinated healthcare. The risk of COVID-19 among CMC is unclear.</p></sec><sec><title>Objectives</title><p>We aim to identify and describe the prevalence and experience of COVID-19 among CMC and their caregivers during the initial weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic in the NY metropolitan area.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>We performed a cross-sectional study of children enrolled in a structured clinical program for CMC at a large urban, academic general pediatrics practice in NY.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>In our patient population (<italic>n</italic> = 132), 16 patients had a known exposure with parents being the most common exposure in 37.5% (<italic>n</italic> = 6). Two patients were hospitalized for COVID-19 while the remainder of the confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases were managed as an outpatient.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>Common sources of COVID-19 exposure were family members and home care providers. Almost all of our patients experienced interruption of medical care including missed therapies and visits.</p></sec>