Clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in pediatric intensive care units during the Omicron wave in Taiwan
Background: Since April 2022, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has caused a notable increase in pediatric COVID-19 cases in Taiwan. During the acute phase of infection, some children required admissions to pediatric intensive care units (PICU). This study aimed to analyze their clinical presentations...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of the Formosan Medical Association |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664624003450 |
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| author | Jeng-Hung Wu Ching-Chia Wang Frank Leigh Lu Shu-Chien Huang Ting-Yu Yen Chun-Yi Lu Luan-Yin Chang En-Ting Wu |
| author_facet | Jeng-Hung Wu Ching-Chia Wang Frank Leigh Lu Shu-Chien Huang Ting-Yu Yen Chun-Yi Lu Luan-Yin Chang En-Ting Wu |
| author_sort | Jeng-Hung Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Since April 2022, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has caused a notable increase in pediatric COVID-19 cases in Taiwan. During the acute phase of infection, some children required admissions to pediatric intensive care units (PICU). This study aimed to analyze their clinical presentations and outcomes while exploring associated factors. Methods: Medical records were retrospectively collected from patients with COVID-19 (aged <18 years) admitted to our PICU from April 2022–March 2023. Early stage is defined as the period without adequate vaccination and treatment guidelines for children from April–June 2022, and the remaining months are referred to as late stage. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between patients in early and late stages. Results: We enrolled 78 children with COVID-19, with a median length of stay (LOS) in PICU of 3 days and a 5% mortality rate. Patients admitted during the early stage had lower vaccination rates (7% vs. 50%), higher pediatric logistic organ dysfunction scores (2 vs. 0.1), and longer LOS in the PICU (6 vs. 2 days) than those admitted during the late stage. Multivariate analysis identified admission during the early stage as a risk factor for prolonged LOS (>7 days) in the PICU (odds ratio: 3.65, p = 0.047). Conclusion: Without available vaccinations and suitable treatment guidelines, children with COVID-19 tended to have more severe illness and prolonged LOS in the PICU. These observations highlight the importance of vaccinations and familiarity of medical providers with adequate management of this newly-emerging infectious disease. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4375016ef19c4d0b83f3c3bf53901a1a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0929-6646 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the Formosan Medical Association |
| spelling | doaj-art-4375016ef19c4d0b83f3c3bf53901a1a2025-02-02T05:26:47ZengElsevierJournal of the Formosan Medical Association0929-66462025-02-011242133138Clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in pediatric intensive care units during the Omicron wave in TaiwanJeng-Hung Wu0Ching-Chia Wang1Frank Leigh Lu2Shu-Chien Huang3Ting-Yu Yen4Chun-Yi Lu5Luan-Yin Chang6En-Ting Wu7Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Jinshan Branch, New Taipei City, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Children’s Hospital, No.8, Chung Shan S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City, 10041, Taiwan.Background: Since April 2022, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has caused a notable increase in pediatric COVID-19 cases in Taiwan. During the acute phase of infection, some children required admissions to pediatric intensive care units (PICU). This study aimed to analyze their clinical presentations and outcomes while exploring associated factors. Methods: Medical records were retrospectively collected from patients with COVID-19 (aged <18 years) admitted to our PICU from April 2022–March 2023. Early stage is defined as the period without adequate vaccination and treatment guidelines for children from April–June 2022, and the remaining months are referred to as late stage. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between patients in early and late stages. Results: We enrolled 78 children with COVID-19, with a median length of stay (LOS) in PICU of 3 days and a 5% mortality rate. Patients admitted during the early stage had lower vaccination rates (7% vs. 50%), higher pediatric logistic organ dysfunction scores (2 vs. 0.1), and longer LOS in the PICU (6 vs. 2 days) than those admitted during the late stage. Multivariate analysis identified admission during the early stage as a risk factor for prolonged LOS (>7 days) in the PICU (odds ratio: 3.65, p = 0.047). Conclusion: Without available vaccinations and suitable treatment guidelines, children with COVID-19 tended to have more severe illness and prolonged LOS in the PICU. These observations highlight the importance of vaccinations and familiarity of medical providers with adequate management of this newly-emerging infectious disease.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664624003450ChildrenCoronavirus disease 2019Length of stayOmicron variantPediatric intensive care unit |
| spellingShingle | Jeng-Hung Wu Ching-Chia Wang Frank Leigh Lu Shu-Chien Huang Ting-Yu Yen Chun-Yi Lu Luan-Yin Chang En-Ting Wu Clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in pediatric intensive care units during the Omicron wave in Taiwan Journal of the Formosan Medical Association Children Coronavirus disease 2019 Length of stay Omicron variant Pediatric intensive care unit |
| title | Clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in pediatric intensive care units during the Omicron wave in Taiwan |
| title_full | Clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in pediatric intensive care units during the Omicron wave in Taiwan |
| title_fullStr | Clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in pediatric intensive care units during the Omicron wave in Taiwan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in pediatric intensive care units during the Omicron wave in Taiwan |
| title_short | Clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in pediatric intensive care units during the Omicron wave in Taiwan |
| title_sort | clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with covid 19 in pediatric intensive care units during the omicron wave in taiwan |
| topic | Children Coronavirus disease 2019 Length of stay Omicron variant Pediatric intensive care unit |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664624003450 |
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