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. 2021 Oct;28(7):530-532.
doi: 10.1016/j.arcped.2021.07.004. Epub 2021 Aug 18.

COVID-19 hospitalization rate in children across a private hospital network in the United States: COVID-19 hospitalization rate in children

Tommy Y Kim  1 , Esther C Kim  2 , Adrian Z Agudelo  2 , Lucas Friedman  2
Affiliations

COVID-19 hospitalization rate in children across a private hospital network in the United States: COVID-19 hospitalization rate in children

Tommy Y Kim et al. Arch Pediatr. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: There are limited studies with varying results evaluating the rate of hospitalizations of pediatric patients tested for COVID-19 in the United States. More information in the pediatric COVID-19 literature is needed. The objective of this study was to describe the rates of positive tests, hospitalization, severe disease, and mortality for COVID-19 in children.

Material and methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of data collected from a data warehouse from 184 hospitals across the United States. All cases of pediatric patients who were tested for COVID-19 were analyzed for test positivity, hospitalization, severe disease, and mortality. A separate subgroup analysis for ages < 1 year, 1-4 years, 5-8 years, 9-14 years, and 15-17 years was performed.

Results: Of 24,781 patient encounters, we found a test positivity rate of 11.15% (95% CI: 10.76-11.55). There were 142 admissions out of the 2,709 symptomatic patients, 5.24% (95% CI: 4.43-6.15) admission rate. Of those admitted, we found that 54.93% (78/142) were admitted to the PICU, but only 22 of the 142 admissions, 15.49% (95% CI: 9.97-22.51), were determined to have severe COVID-19 disease. One patient died during the study period giving an overall pediatric mortality rate of 0.04% (95% CI: 0.00-0.21).

Conclusion: In our sample, we found a test positivity rate of 11.15%. We also report a 5.24% hospitalization rate with 15.49% of admitted patients with severe disease. Lastly, we also report a very low mortality rate of 0.04% of all patients who tested positive for COVID-19.

Keywords: Covid-19; Hospitalization; Pediatric; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure of interest This research was supported (in whole or in part) by HCA Healthcare and/or an HCA Healthcare affiliated entity. The views expressed in this publication represent those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of HCA Healthcare or any of its affiliated entities. No financial support was secured for this study

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