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Multicenter Study
. 2023 Jun;51(3):737-741.
doi: 10.1007/s15010-022-01910-y. Epub 2022 Aug 29.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in technology-dependent children: a multicenter case series

Joan Robinson  1 , Tammie Dewan  2 , Shaun K Morris  3 , Ari Bitnun  3 , Peter Gill  3 , Tala El Tal  3 , Ronald M Laxer  3 , E Ann Yeh  3 , Carmen Yea  3 , Rolando Ulloa-Gutierrez  4 , Helena Brenes-Chacon  4 , Adriana Yock-Corrales  4 , Gabriela Ivankovich-Escoto  4 , Alejandra Soriano-Fallas  4 , Marcela Hernandez-de Mezerville  4 , Jesse Papenburg  5 , Marie-Astrid Lefebvre  5 , Alireza Nateghian  6 , Behzad Haghighi Aski  6 , Ali Manafi  6 , Rachel Dwilow  7 , Jared Bullard  7 , Suzette Cooke  2 , Lea Restivo  2 , Alison Lopez  8 , Manish Sadarangani  8   9   10 , Ashley Roberts  8   9 , Nicole Le Saux  11 , Jennifer Bowes  11 , Rupeena Purewal  12 , Janell Lautermilch  12 , Jacqueline K Wong  13 , Dominique Piche  14 , Karina A Top  14 , Cheryl Foo  15 , Luc Panetta  16 , Joanna Merckx  17 , Michelle Barton  18
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

SARS-CoV-2 infection in technology-dependent children: a multicenter case series

Joan Robinson et al. Infection. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe the clinical course and outcomes in children with technology dependence (TD) hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: Seventeen pediatric hospitals (15 Canadian and one each in Iran and Costa Rica) included children up to 17 years of age admitted February 1, 2020, through May 31, 2021, with detection of SARS-CoV-2. For those with TD, data were collected on demographics, clinical course and outcome.

Results: Of 691 children entered in the database, 42 (6%) had TD of which 22 had feeding tube dependence only, 9 were on supplemental oxygen only, 3 had feeding tube dependence and were on supplemental oxygen, 2 had a tracheostomy but were not ventilated, 4 were on non-invasive ventilation, and 2 were on mechanical ventilation prior to admission. Three of 42 had incidental SARS-CoV-2 infection. Two with end-stage underlying conditions were transitioned to comfort care and died. Sixteen (43%) of the remaining 37 cases required increased respiratory support from baseline due to COVID-19 while 21 (57%) did not. All survivors were discharged home.

Conclusion: Children with TD appear to have an increased risk of COVID-19 hospitalization. However, in the absence of end-stage chronic conditions, all survived to discharge.

Keywords: COVID-19; Pediatric; SARS-CoV-2; Technology dependence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial interests: E. Ann Yeh reports grants from Biogen, Roche, Horizon Therapeutics and Alexion; honoraria from Prime and Novartis; and participation on advisory boards with Roche and Horizon Therapeutics. Jesse Papenburg reports grants from AbbVie, Sanofi Pasteur, Merck and MedImmune; consulting fees from Merck; and honoraria from AbbVie, AstraZeneca and Seegene. He is a member of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. Marie-Astrid Lefebvre reports an honorarium from Takeda Canada. Tammie Dewan reports grants from the Sick Kids Hospital Foundation, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) and the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Calgary. Jared Bullard reports grants from CIHR, the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation and Research Manitoba. Manish Sadarangani reports grants from GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Moderna, Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur, Seqirus, Symvivo and VBI Vaccines, as well as participating on 2 data safety monitoring boards for COVID-19 vaccine trials. Rupeena Purewal reports honoraria and consulting fees from Verity Pharmaceuticals. Kirk Leifso reports a grant from the Hospital for Sick Children. Joanna Merckx reports a role as medical director of bioMerieux Canada. She is also an independent researcher, with a contract with Public Health Belgium, Sciensano for a study on the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in schools.

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