Citations 1
A Description of COVID-19-Directed Therapy in Children Admitted to US Intensive Care Units 2020
Schuster, Jennifer E. , Halasa, Natasha , Nakamura, Mari , Levy, Emily R. , Young, Cameron C. , Newhams, Margaret M. , Bourgeois, Florence T. , Staat, Mary Allen , Hobbs, Charlotte V. , Feldstein, Leora R. , Jackson, A. , Mack, Elizabeth H. , Walker, Tracie C. , Spinella, Philip C. , Loftis, Laura L. , Kong, Michele , Rowan, Courtney M. , McLaughlin, Gwenn E., Hall, Mark W. , Babbitt, Christopher , Maamari, Mia , Zinter, Matt S. , Gertz, Shira J. , Carroll, Christopher L. , Singh, Aalok R. , Hymes, Saul , Schwarz, Adam J. , McGuire, John K. , Nofziger, Ryan A. , Flori, Heidi R. , Clouser, Katharine N. , Wellnitz, Kari , Cullimore, Melissa L. , Hume, Janet R. , Patel, Manish , Randolph, Adrienne G. , Investigators, Overcoming COVID-19, Patel, Manish R. , Feldstein, Leora R , Levy, Emily R , Young, Cameron C , Randolph, Adrienne G , Spinella, Philip C , Kong, Michele , Hume, Janet R , Hobbs, Charlotte V , Staat, Mary A , Gertz, Shira J , Hymes, Saul R , Fitzgerald, Julie C. , Dapul, Heda , Jackson, Ashley M, Maddux, Aline B. , Bembea, Melania M. , Cvijanovich, Natalie Z , Michelson, Kelly Nicole , Thomas, Neal J. , Giuliano, John S. , Investigators, Overcoming COVID-19
Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society | November 17, 2021 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 191-198
Abstract Background It is unclear how acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-directed therapies are used in children with life-threatening COVID-19 in US hospitals. We described characteristics of children hospitalized in the intensive care unit or step-down unit (ICU/SDU) who received COVID-19-directed therapies and the specific therapies administered. Methods Between March 15, 2020 and December 27, 2020, children <18 years of age in the ICU/SDU with acute COVID-19 at 48 pediatric hospitals in the United States were identified. Demographics, laboratory values, and clinical course were compared in children who did and did not receive COVID-19-directed therapies. Trends in COVID-19-directed therapies over time were evaluated. Results Of 424 children in the ICU/SDU, 235 (55%) received COVID-19-directed therapies. Children who received COVID-19-directed therapies were older than those who did not receive COVID-19-directed therapies (13.3 [5.6-16.2] vs 9.8 [0.65-15.9] years), more had underlying medical conditions (188 [80%] vs 104 [55%]; difference = 25% [95% CI: 16% to 34%]), more received respiratory support (206 [88%] vs 71 [38%]; difference = 50% [95% CI: 34% to 56%]), and more died (8 [3.4%] vs 0). Of the 235 children receiving COVID-19-directed therapies, 172 (73%) received systemic steroids and 150 (64%) received remdesivir, with rising remdesivir use over the study period (14% in March/April to 57% November/December). Conclusion Despite the lack of pediatric data evaluating treatments for COVID-19 in critically ill children, more than half of children requiring intensive or high acuity care received COVID-19-directed therapies.