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ABSTRACT: Background
It is unclear how acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-directed therapies are used in children with life-threatening COVID-19 in US hospitals. We described characteristics of children hospitalized in the intensive care unit or step-down unit (ICU/SDU) who received COVID-19-directed therapies and the specific therapies administered.Methods
Between March 15, 2020 and December 27, 2020, children <18 years of age in the ICU/SDU with acute COVID-19 at 48 pediatric hospitals in the United States were identified. Demographics, laboratory values, and clinical course were compared in children who did and did not receive COVID-19-directed therapies. Trends in COVID-19-directed therapies over time were evaluated.Results
Of 424 children in the ICU/SDU, 235 (55%) received COVID-19-directed therapies. Children who received COVID-19-directed therapies were older than those who did not receive COVID-19-directed therapies (13.3 [5.6-16.2] vs 9.8 [0.65-15.9] years), more had underlying medical conditions (188 [80%] vs 104 [55%]; difference = 25% [95% CI: 16% to 34%]), more received respiratory support (206 [88%] vs 71 [38%]; difference = 50% [95% CI: 34% to 56%]), and more died (8 [3.4%] vs 0). Of the 235 children receiving COVID-19-directed therapies, 172 (73%) received systemic steroids and 150 (64%) received remdesivir, with rising remdesivir use over the study period (14% in March/April to 57% November/December).Conclusion
Despite the lack of pediatric data evaluating treatments for COVID-19 in critically ill children, more than half of children requiring intensive or high acuity care received COVID-19-directed therapies.
SUBMITTER: Schuster JE
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8807297 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Schuster Jennifer E JE Halasa Natasha B NB Nakamura Mari M Levy Emily R ER Fitzgerald Julie C JC Young Cameron C CC Newhams Margaret M MM Bourgeois Florence F Staat Mary A MA Hobbs Charlotte V CV Dapul Heda H Feldstein Leora R LR Jackson Ashley M AM Mack Elizabeth H EH Walker Tracie C TC Maddux Aline B AB Spinella Philip C PC Loftis Laura L LL Kong Michele M Rowan Courtney M CM Bembea Melania M MM McLaughlin Gwenn E GE Hall Mark W MW Babbitt Christopher J CJ Maamari Mia M Zinter Matt S MS Cvijanovich Natalie Z NZ Michelson Kelly N KN Gertz Shira J SJ Carroll Christopher L CL Thomas Neal J NJ Giuliano John S JS Singh Aalok R AR Hymes Saul R SR Schwarz Adam J AJ McGuire John K JK Nofziger Ryan A RA Flori Heidi R HR Clouser Katharine N KN Wellnitz Kari K Cullimore Melissa L ML Hume Janet R JR Patel Manish M Randolph Adrienne G AG
Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society 20220501 5
<h4>Background</h4>It is unclear how acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-directed therapies are used in children with life-threatening COVID-19 in US hospitals. We described characteristics of children hospitalized in the intensive care unit or step-down unit (ICU/SDU) who received COVID-19-directed therapies and the specific therapies administered.<h4>Methods</h4>Between March 15, 2020 and December 27, 2020, children <18 years of age in the ICU/SDU with acute COVID-19 at 48 pediatric hosp ...[more]