Clinical profile, risk factors and outcomes of ric COVID-19: a retrospective cohort multicentre study in Saudi Arabia. Issue 3 (11th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Albuali, Waleed H; AlGhamdi, Amal A; Aldossary, Shaikha J; AlHarbi, Saleh A; Al Majed, Sami I; Alenizi, Ahmed; Al-Qahtani, Mohammad H; Lardhi, Amer A; Al-Turki, Shams A; AlSanea, Abdulaziz S; Bubshait, Dalal K; Kobeisy, Sumayyah A; Herzallah, Noor H; Alqarni, Wejdan A; AlHarbi, Abeer H; Albuali, Hamad W; Aldossary, Bader J; AlQurashi, Faisal O; Yousef, Abdullah A
• Is Part Of: BMJ open. Volume 12:Issue 3(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03-11
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- paediatrics -- paediatric intensive & critical care; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; 610.72
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053722
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-6055

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To describe the risk factors, clinical profile and outcomes of COVID-19 in the paediatric population. Design: Multicentre, retrospective observational study. Setting: Four tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Patients: We recruited 390 paediatric patients aged 0–18 years who presented from March to December 2020 and tested positive for COVID-19 on PCR. Main outcome measures: We retrospectively analysed medical records for sociodemographics, health indicators, clinical presentations, laboratory findings, clinical complications, and outcomes. Results: The mean participant age was 5.66±4.90 years, and the mean hospital stay was 2.17±3.48 days. Forty patients, mostly school-aged children (16, 40.00%; p=0.005) and children with comorbidities (25, 62.50%; p<0.001), received more than just supportive care. Complications were seen in 15 (3.9%) patients, bacterial infection being the most common (6, 40.00%). Patients presented with dyspnoea (OR 6.89; 95% CI 2.89 to 20.72), abnormal chest radiographs (OR 6.11; 95% CI 1.26 to 29.38), lethargy (OR 9.04; 95% CI 2.91 to 28.06) and elevated ferritin (OR 14.21; 95% CI 4.18 to 48.37) and D-dimer (OR 48.40; 95% CI 14.32 to 163.62), with higher odds of developing complications. The odds of paediatric intensive care unit (ICU) admission were higher for patients with dyspnoea (adjusted OR 4.66; 95% CI 1.24 to 17.50) and elevated white blood cell count (adjusted OR 3.54; 95% CI 1.02 to 12.30). Conclusions: COVID-19 complications were limited among our patients. However, dyspnoea, abnormal chest radiographs, lethargy and elevated ferritin and D-dimer were associated with an increased risk of complications. Dyspnoea, leucocytosis, comorbidities and abnormal chest radiographs at presentation increased the risk of ICU admission.