Patients Admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care with Sars-Cov2: Results from a Nationwide Multicentre Study

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Admission to PICU due to SARS-CoV2 infection in children is unfrequent. However there are few pediatric patients who may require intensive care management. The aim of our study was to describe characteristics and evolution of those patients admitted to Spanish PICUs due to SARS-CoV2 infection. METHOD(S) A multicentre nationwide prospective registry involving all Spanish PICUs was carried out between 1st of march 2020 and 30 November 2021. RESULT(S) During the study period 299 patients where admitted to the participating units. Median age was 8.9 years (IQR 4.4 -12.2). 208 patients (69,6%) where diagnosed of Multisystem Inflamatory Syndrome associated to SARS-CoV2 (MIS-C). 225 patients (75.3%) where previously healthy. Main reason for admission was shock (which was present in 55.9% of patients). Respiratory difficulty was present only in 40.8% of patients. 50.5% of patients required vasoactive drugs, which was more frequent among those presenting with MIS-C (66.5% vs 20.9%, p<0.001). Only 17.4% of patients required mechanical ventilation, which was less frequent in patients with MIS-C (11.1% vs 34.1% p<0.001). 9 patients (3%) included in the registry died. Death was more frequent among patients with previous diseases (9.6% vs 0.9%, p<0.001) and less frequent in those admitted due to MIS-C (0.5% vs 9.3%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION(S) MIS-C was the most frequent cause of admission to PICU in Spain related to SARS-CoV2 infection. Most patients were admitted presenting shock and required vasoactive drugs, but only a few mechanical ventilation. Mortality rate was low. Prognosis was more favourable in those admitted due to MIS-C.