COVID-19 Hospitalization Rate in Children Across a Private Hospital Network in the United States: COVID-19 Hospitalization Rate in Children

Authors

Tommy Y. Kim, HCA HealthcareFollow
Esther C. Kim, HCA HealthcareFollow
Adrian Z. Agudelo, HCA HealthcareFollow
Lucas Friedman, HCA HealthcareFollow

Division

Far West

Hospital

Riverside Community Hospital

Document Type

Manuscript

Publication Date

8-18-2021

Keywords

sars-cov-2, coronavirus infections, COVID-19, hospitalization, pediatric

Disciplines

Critical Care | Emergency Medicine | Pediatrics | Virus Diseases

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.

Publisher or Conference

Archives de Pédiatrie

Recommended Citation

Kim TY, Kim EC, Agudelo AZ, Friedman L. COVID-19 hospitalization rate in children across a private hospital network in the United States: COVID-19 hospitalization rate in children. Arch Pediatr. 2021;28(7):530-532. doi:10.1016/j.arcped.2021.07.004