AUTHOR=López-Medina Eduardo , Camacho-Moreno German , Brizuela Martin E. , Dávalos Diana M. , Torres Juan Pablo , Ulloa-Gutierrez Rolando , López Pio , Debbag Roberto , Pérez Paola , Patiño Jaime , Norero Ximena , Mariño Cristina , Luengas Miguel A. , Ensinck Gabriela , Daza Carlos , Luciani Kathia , Quintana Kuhner Paola , Rodriguez Mónica , Rodríguez-Auad Juan Pablo , Estrada-Villarroel Alejandra , Carnevale Mayli , Mantese Orlando Cesar , Berezin Eitan N. , Castillo José Iván , Mascareñas Abiel , Jimenez-Zambrano Andrea , Dueñas Lourdes , Melgar Mario , Galvez Nancy , Cantor Erika , Asturias Edwin J. TITLE=Factors Associated With Hospitalization or Intensive Care Admission in Children With COVID-19 in Latin America JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics VOLUME=10 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.868297 DOI=10.3389/fped.2022.868297 ISSN=2296-2360 ABSTRACT=Background

Limited data is available from low-middle and upper-middle income countries of the factors associated with hospitalization or admission to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for children with COVID-19.

Objective

To describe the factors associated with hospitalization or PICU admission of children with COVID-19 in Latin America.

Method

Multicenter, analytical, retrospective study of children reported from 10 different Latin American countries to the Latin-American Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (SLIPE-COVID) research network from June 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021. Outpatient or hospitalized children <18 years of age with COVID-19 confirmed by polymerase chain reaction or antigen detection from the nasopharynx were included. Children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) were excluded. Associations were assessed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

A total of 1063 children with COVID-19 were included; 500 (47%) hospitalized, with 419 (84%) to the pediatric wards and 81 (16%) to the ICU. In multivariable analyses, age <1 year (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.78; 95% CI 1.08–2.94), native race (OR 5.40; 95% CI 2.13–13.69) and having a co-morbid condition (OR 5.3; 95% CI 3.10–9.15), were associated with hospitalization. Children with metabolic or endocrine disorders (OR 4.22; 95% CI 1.76–10.11), immune deficiency (1.91; 95% CI 1.05–3.49), preterm birth (OR 2.52; 95% CI 1.41–4.49), anemia at presentation (OR 2.34; 95% CI 1.28–4.27), radiological peribronchial wall thickening (OR 2.59; 95% CI 1.15–5.84) and hypoxia, altered mental status, seizures, or shock were more likely to require PICU admission. The presence of pharyngitis (OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.25–0.48); myalgia (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.28–0.79) or diarrhea (OR 0.38; 95% CI 0.21–0.67) were inversely associated with hospital admission.

Conclusions

In this data analysis reported to the SLIPE research network in Latin America, infants, social inequalities, comorbidities, anemia, bronchial wall thickening and specific clinical findings on presentation were associated with higher rates of hospitalization or PICU admission. This evidence provides data for prioritization prevention and treatment strategies for children suffering from COVID-19.