Adults with comorbidities are more likely to suffer from severe manifestations of COVID-19
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Children with COVID-19 have less severe disease manifestations than adults
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Children may experience multisystem inflammatory syndrome due to COVID-19
What is new
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Children with comorbidities may be at an increased risk for PICU admission and/or severe COVID-19
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Children with comorbidities may be at an increased risk of mortality during COVID-19 infection
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Childhood obesity likely contributes to more serious manifestations of COVID-19
Abstract
Objective
There is limited information on the severity of COVID-19 infection in children with comorbidities. We investigated the effects of pediatric comorbidities on COVID-19 severity by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature.
Methods
PubMed, Embase, and Medline databases were searched for publications on pediatric COVID-19 infections published January 1st to October 5th, 2020. Articles describing at least one child with and without comorbidities, COVID-19 infection, and reported outcomes were included.
Results
42 studies containing 275,661 children without comorbidities and 9,353 children with comorbidities were included. Severe COVID-19 was present in 5.1% of children with comorbidities, and in 0.2% without comorbidities. Random-effects analysis revealed a higher risk of severe COVID-19 among children with comorbidities than for healthy children; relative risk ratio 1.79 (95% CI 1.27 – 2.51; I2 = 94%). Children with underlying conditions also had a higher risk of COVID-19-associated mortality; relative risk ratio 2.81 (95% CI 1.31 – 6.02; I2 = 82%). Children with obesity had a relative risk ratio of 2.87 (95% CI 1.16 – 7.07; I2 = 36%).
Conclusions
Children with comorbidities have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 and associated mortality than children without underlying disease. Additional studies are required to further evaluate this relationship.
