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Is Cardiorespiratory Disease associated with increased susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 in Children?
  • +8
  • Cassidy Du Berry,
  • Thomas Saunders,
  • Alissa McMinn,
  • Shidan Tosif,
  • Shivanthan Shanthikumar,
  • Moya Vandeleur,
  • Joanne Harrison,
  • David Burgner,
  • Sarath Ranganathan,
  • Nigel Crawford,
  • Danielle Wurzel
Cassidy Du Berry
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

Corresponding Author:cassidy.duberry@mcri.edu.au

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Thomas Saunders
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
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Alissa McMinn
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
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Shidan Tosif
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
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Shivanthan Shanthikumar
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
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Moya Vandeleur
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
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Joanne Harrison
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
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David Burgner
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
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Sarath Ranganathan
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
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Nigel Crawford
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
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Danielle Wurzel
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
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Abstract

Background There are limited data in paediatric populations evaluating whether chronic cardiorespiratory conditions are associated with increased risk of COVID-19. We aimed to compare the rates of chronic cardiac and respiratory disease in children testing positive (SARS-CoV-2[+]) compared to those testing negative (SARS-CoV-2[-]) at our institution. Method Prospective cohort with nested case-control study of all children tested by PCR for SARS-CoV-2 by nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal sampling between March and October 2020. Children were identified prospectively via laboratory notification with age and sex-matching of SARS-CoV-2[+] to SARS-CoV-2[-] (1:2). Clinical data were extracted from the electronic medical record. Results In total, 179 SARS-CoV-2[+] children (44% female, median age 3.5 yrs, range 0.1 to 19.0 yrs) were matched to 391 SARS-CoV-2[-] children (42% female, median age 3.7 yrs, range 0.1 to 18.3 yrs). The commonest co-morbidities showed similar frequencies in the SARS-CoV-2[+] and [-] groups: asthma (n = 9, 5% vs n = 17, 4.4%, p = 0.71), congenital heart disease (n = 6, 3.4% vs n = 7, 1.8%, p = 0.25) and obstructive sleep apnoea (n = 4, 2.2% vs n = 10, 2.3%, p = 0.82). In the SARS-CoV-2 group, the prevalence of symptomatic disease was similar amongst children with and without cardiorespiratory comorbidities (n = 12, 75% vs n = 103, 57%, p = 0.35) who tested positive. A high proportion of children hospitalised with SARS-CoV-2 infection had cardiac comorbidities (23.8%). Conclusions In this single site dataset, rates of pre-existing cardiorespiratory disease were similar in SARS-CoV-2[+] and SARS-CoV-2[-] children. High rates of comorbid cardiac disease were observed amongst hospitalised children with COVID-19, warranting further research to inform public health measures and vaccine prioritisation.
06 Apr 2021Submitted to Pediatric Pulmonology
07 Apr 2021Submission Checks Completed
07 Apr 2021Assigned to Editor
27 Apr 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
26 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Jun 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
29 Jul 20211st Revision Received
30 Jul 2021Submission Checks Completed
30 Jul 2021Assigned to Editor
30 Jul 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
13 Aug 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Aug 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Dec 2021Published in Pediatric Pulmonology volume 56 issue 12 on pages 3664-3668. 10.1002/ppul.25642