tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Influenza Other Respir Viruses
. 2024 May;18(5):e13300.
doi: 10.1111/irv.13300. Risk Factors for Severe COVID-19 Among Children and Adolescents Enrolled in Acute Respiratory Infection Sentinel Surveillance in South Africa, 2020-2022
Kate Bishop[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Susan Meiring[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Stefano Tempia[SUP] 2 3 4 5 [/SUP], Anne von Gottberg[SUP] 2 6 [/SUP], Nicole Wolter[SUP] 2 6 [/SUP], Jackie Kleynhans[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Fahima Moosa[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Mignon du Plessis[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Jocelyn Moyes[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Mvuyo Makhasi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Boitumelo Chuene[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Aaron M Samuels[SUP] 5 7 [/SUP], Halima Dawood[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Gary Reubenson[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Heather J Zar[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Vanessa Quan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Cheryl Cohen[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Sibongile Walaza[SUP] 2 11 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Identifying children at risk for severe COVID-19 disease from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may guide future mitigation interventions. Using sentinel surveillance data, we aimed to identify risk factors for SARS-CoV-2-associated hospitalisation among patients aged ≤ 18 years with respiratory illness.
Methods: From April 2020 to March 2022, patients meeting study case definitions were enrolled at four outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) and five inpatient severe respiratory infection (SRI) surveillance sites and tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Each ILI clinic shared a catchment area with its corresponding SRI hospital. Potential risk factors for SARS-CoV-2-associated hospitalisation were analysed using multivariable logistic regression by comparing inpatient versus outpatient SARS-CoV-2 cases.
Results: Of 4688 participants aged ≤ 18 years, 4556 (97%) with complete PCR and HIV data were included in the analysis. Among patients with ILI and SRI, 92/1145 (8%) and 154/3411 (5%) tested SARS-CoV-2 positive, respectively. Compared to outpatients, hospitalised SARS-CoV-2 cases were associated with age < 6 months ([adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 8.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.7-24.0] versus 1-4 years); underlying medical condition other than HIV [aOR 5.8, 95% CI 2.3-14.6]; laboratory-confirmed Omicron BA.1/BA.2 or Delta variant ([aOR 4.9, 95% CI 1.7-14.2] or [aOR 2.8, 95% CI 1.1-7.3] compared to ancestral SARS-CoV-2); and respiratory syncytial virus coinfection [aOR 6.2, 95% CI 1.0-38.5].
Conclusion: Aligning with previous research, we identified age < 6 months or having an underlying condition as risk factors for SARS-CoV-2-associated SRI hospitalisation and demonstrated the potential of sentinel surveillance to monitor COVID-19 in children.
Keywords: COVID‐19; SARS‐CoV‐2; children; southern Africa; surveillance.
. 2024 May;18(5):e13300.
doi: 10.1111/irv.13300. Risk Factors for Severe COVID-19 Among Children and Adolescents Enrolled in Acute Respiratory Infection Sentinel Surveillance in South Africa, 2020-2022
Kate Bishop[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Susan Meiring[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Stefano Tempia[SUP] 2 3 4 5 [/SUP], Anne von Gottberg[SUP] 2 6 [/SUP], Nicole Wolter[SUP] 2 6 [/SUP], Jackie Kleynhans[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Fahima Moosa[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Mignon du Plessis[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Jocelyn Moyes[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Mvuyo Makhasi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Boitumelo Chuene[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Aaron M Samuels[SUP] 5 7 [/SUP], Halima Dawood[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Gary Reubenson[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Heather J Zar[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Vanessa Quan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Cheryl Cohen[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Sibongile Walaza[SUP] 2 11 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 38666359
- PMCID: PMC11046310
- DOI: 10.1111/irv.13300
Background: Identifying children at risk for severe COVID-19 disease from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may guide future mitigation interventions. Using sentinel surveillance data, we aimed to identify risk factors for SARS-CoV-2-associated hospitalisation among patients aged ≤ 18 years with respiratory illness.
Methods: From April 2020 to March 2022, patients meeting study case definitions were enrolled at four outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) and five inpatient severe respiratory infection (SRI) surveillance sites and tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Each ILI clinic shared a catchment area with its corresponding SRI hospital. Potential risk factors for SARS-CoV-2-associated hospitalisation were analysed using multivariable logistic regression by comparing inpatient versus outpatient SARS-CoV-2 cases.
Results: Of 4688 participants aged ≤ 18 years, 4556 (97%) with complete PCR and HIV data were included in the analysis. Among patients with ILI and SRI, 92/1145 (8%) and 154/3411 (5%) tested SARS-CoV-2 positive, respectively. Compared to outpatients, hospitalised SARS-CoV-2 cases were associated with age < 6 months ([adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 8.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.7-24.0] versus 1-4 years); underlying medical condition other than HIV [aOR 5.8, 95% CI 2.3-14.6]; laboratory-confirmed Omicron BA.1/BA.2 or Delta variant ([aOR 4.9, 95% CI 1.7-14.2] or [aOR 2.8, 95% CI 1.1-7.3] compared to ancestral SARS-CoV-2); and respiratory syncytial virus coinfection [aOR 6.2, 95% CI 1.0-38.5].
Conclusion: Aligning with previous research, we identified age < 6 months or having an underlying condition as risk factors for SARS-CoV-2-associated SRI hospitalisation and demonstrated the potential of sentinel surveillance to monitor COVID-19 in children.
Keywords: COVID‐19; SARS‐CoV‐2; children; southern Africa; surveillance.