학술논문
The Influence of SARS-CoV-2 Variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.617.2 on a Different Clinical Course and Severity of COVID-19 in Children Hospitalized in 2021 Compared With 2020
Document Type
Academic Journal
Author
Pokorska-Śpiewak, Maria; Talarek, Ewa; Pawłowska, Małgorzata; Mania, Anna; Hasiec, Barbara; Żwirek-Pytka, Elżbieta; Stankiewicz, Magdalena; Stani, Martyna; Frańczak-Chmura, Paulina; Szenborn, Leszek; Zaleska, Izabela; Chruszcz, Joanna; Majda-Stanisławska, Ewa; Dryja, Urszula; Gąsiorowska, Kamila; Figlerowicz, Magdalena; Mazur-Melewska, Katarzyna; Faltin, Kamil; Ciechanowski, Przemysław; Peregrym, Michał; Łasecka-Zadrożna, Joanna; Rudnicki, Józef; Szczepańska, Barbara; Pałyga-Bysiecka, Ilona; Rogowska, Ewelina; Hudobska-Nawrot, Dagmara; Domańska-Granek, Katarzyna; Sybilski, Adam; Kucharek, Izabela; Franczak, Justyna; Sobolewska-Pilarczyk, Małgorzata; Kuchar, Ernest; Wronowski, Michał; Paryż, Maria; Kalicki, Bolesław; Toczyłowski, Kacper; Sulik, Artur; Niedźwiecka, Sławomira; Gorczyca, Anna; Marczyńska, Magdalena
Source
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. Jul 01, 2023 42(7):584-589
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
0891-3668
Abstract
BACKGROUND:: This study aimed to analyze the differences in the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children hospitalized in 2021, when the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants B.1.1.7 (alpha) and B.1.617.2 (delta) dominated, compared with 2020. METHODS:: In this multicenter study based on the pediatric part of the national SARSTer register (SARSTer-PED), we included 2771 children (0–18 years) with COVID-19 diagnosed between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021, from 14 Polish inpatient centers. An electronic questionnaire, which addressed epidemiologic and clinical data, was used. RESULTS:: Children hospitalized in 2021 were younger compared with those reported in 2020 (mean 4.1 vs. 6.8 years, P = 0.01). Underlying comorbidities were reported in 22% of the patients. The clinical course was usually mild (70%). A significant difference in the clinical course assessment between 2020 and 2021 was found, with more asymptomatic patients in 2020 and more severely ill children in 2021. In total, 5% of patients were severely or critically ill, including <3% of the participants in 2020 and 7% in 2021. The calculated mortality rate was 0.1% in general and 0.2% in 2021. CONCLUSION:: Infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants alpha and delta lead to a more severe course of COVID-19 with more pronounced clinical presentation and higher fatality rates than infection with an original strain. Most of the children requiring hospitalization due to COVID-19 do not have underlying comorbidities.