“`html
More than half of U.S. children hospitalized with COVID-19 from late 2022 too early 2024 had underlying health conditions, and fewer than 4% were up-to-date on vaccinations.
Nearly 6 out of 10 vaccine-eligible U.S. children hospitalized for COVID-19 between October 2022 and April 2024 had at least one underlying medical condition. Moreover, less than 4% of these children were current with their recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, according to a recent CDC-led study. This analysis, which examined data from over 275 hospitals in 12 states, highlights crucial factors for severe outcomes in children. “Although most SARS-CoV-2 infections in children are mild, children can have severe outcomes from COVID-19,” researchers noted. “Virus variants and population immunity have changed over time; thus, it is significant to understand risk factors for severe disease.”
A Quarter Landed in the ICU
The study tracked 2,490 children aged 6 months to 17 years. Of these, 44.7% were very young, between 6 and 23 months. Boys made up 54.1% of the group.Racial and ethnic breakdowns included 34.8% White, 27.8% Hispanic, and 23.3% Black children. A significant majority, 58.9%, had at least one chronic condition.This prevalence varied by age group, with 41.8% of those aged 6-23 months and a much higher 77.0% of those aged 12-17 years having a chronic condition.
25.2% of the hospitalized children required intensive care. This rate climbed to 30.7% for adolescents aged 12 to 17. Nearly a third needed respiratory support, and 14.1% required mechanical ventilation.The most common underlying conditions varied by age. Among children aged 6 to 23 months, chronic lung disease (18.4%) and congenital heart defects (10.8%) were prevalent. For those aged 2 to 11 years,asthma (21.4%) and obesity (17.8%) were the most common. In the 12- to 17-year-old group, asthma (26.8%) and obesity (23.8%) were also leading conditions.
In the 5- to 11-year-old group, asthma was the most common ailment at 36.6%, followed by neurologic disorders (31.1%) and obesity (19.9%). Among the neurologic conditions, cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, epilepsy, and developmental delay were frequently observed in children over 2 years old.
The vaccination data revealed that only 3.8% of all hospitalized children were up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines. For those with two or more underlying illnesses, a staggering 94.5% were not up-to-date. This included 81.5% who hadn’t received a vaccine within the past 12 months and another 13.0% who were vaccinated more than a year ago but not with the latest recommended dose. Children with immunosuppressive conditions had the highest vaccination rates (9.5%), followed by those with feeding tube dependence (6.7%) and neurologic conditions (5.2%). Even among children with asthma, only 4.5% were current with vaccinations, and for those born prematurely, it was 3.1%.
Vaccinations Remain Key
The study identified specific underlying conditions linked to more severe outcomes. For children aged 6 to 23 months, severe disease was associated with chronic lung disease (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 1.5) and cardiovascular disease (aRR 1.4). In children aged 2 and older,severity was tied to chronic lung disease (aRR 1.9), diabetes (aRR 1.5), and neurologic conditions (aRR 1.4).
Did you know? Infants younger than 6 months are not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccines. However, maternal vaccination during pregnancy can provide protection for these very young infants.
“These findings provide an important update to our knowledge regarding which children continue to be hospitalized and at risk
