Boletín Médico del Hospital Infantil de México (Oct 2021)

Risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in the pediatric population

  • Moisés Moreno-Noguez,
  • Rodolfo Rivas-Ruiz,
  • Ivonne A. Roy-García,
  • Daniel O. Pacheco-Rosas,
  • Sarbelio Moreno-Espinoza,
  • Andrey A. Flores-Pulido

DOI
https://doi.org/10.24875/BMHIM.20000263
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 78, no. 4

Abstract

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Background: Currently, there are a few studies on the clinical characteristics of the pediatric population with COVID-19 and pneumonia. This study aimed to analyze data associated with the development of pneumonia in children and adolescents with SARS-CoV-2 infection throughout Mexico. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of the database of the Dirección General de Epidemiología of the Mexican Government. We included children under the age of 19 who were confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 infection by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. The dependent variable was the diagnosis of pneumonia. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Multiple logistic regression models were performed to adjust factors associated with pneumonia. Results: A total of 1443 children with a COVID-19 diagnosis were included. The median age of the participants was 12 years (interquartile range 25, 75: 5, 16). Pneumonia occurred in 141 children (9.8%). The main risk factors were age < 3 years (OR, 3.5; 95%CI, 2.45-5.03); diabetes or obesity (OR, 12.6; 95%CI, 4.62-34.91); and immunocompromise (OR, 7.03; 95%CI, 3.97-13.61). Conclusions: Children < 3 years with COVID-19 and comorbidities, especially diabetes or obesity, and immunocompromised patients have a higher risk of developing pneumonia.

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