Pediatric hospitalizations for respiratory infections: Before and after SARS-CoV-2
| datacite.subject.fos | Ciências Médicas | |
| dc.contributor.author | Monteiro, Sara | |
| dc.contributor.author | Salazar, Luís | |
| dc.contributor.author | Oliveira, João | |
| dc.contributor.author | Souto, Mariana | |
| dc.contributor.author | Morais, Lurdes | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ramos, Ana | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ferreira-Magalhães, Manuel | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-20T14:10:00Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-11-20T14:10:00Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-09-30 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Introduction: With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, several non-pharmacological measures were adopted to prevent and control the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Objective: To compare pediatric hospitalizations for acute respiratory infections (ARIs) before and after the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study of admissions for ARIs in the pediatric ward of a tertiary hospital between April 2018 and March 2021. Inclusion criteria comprised: hospitalization of pediatric patients ([0-17[ years); length of stay >24 hours; and a respiratory infection diagnosis code from ICD-10. Data were collected using electronic clinical records. The first two years were considered ‘non-COVID-19 years’ (year[Y]1 and Y2), while the period between April 2020 and March 2021 was considered the ‘COVID-19 year’ (Y3). Results: A total of 783 hospitalizations were included in the analysis. There was a significant decrease in ARIs admissions in Y3 compared to Y1 and 2 (-67% from Y2 to Y3; p<0.001), with a decrease in the proportion of bronchiolitis cases (-42% from Y2 to Y3; p<0.001) and an increase in pneumonia cases (+124% from Y2 to Y3; p<0.001). There was a significant decrease in the incidence of respiratory viruses from Y2 to Y3 (76.6% vs. 56.4%; p<0.001), mainly driven by a decrease in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV; 46.8% in Y2 vs. 2.0% in Y3; p<0.001). Conversely, there was a significant increase in the incidence of rhinovirus from Y2 to Y3 (15.3% vs. 22.8%; p<0.001), and SARS-CoV-2 was identified in 31.7% of cases in Y3. More chest computed tomography scans were performed (5.6% vs. 10.9%; p<0.001) and more systemic steroids were used (26.3% vs. 40.6%; p=0.023) from Y2 to Y3. Conclusions: Population-based non-pharmacological measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with a reduction in pediatric hospitalizations for ARIs. The decrease in ARIs due to RSV is particularly noteworthy in this pandemic context. | por |
| dc.identifier.citation | Monteiro S, Salazar L, Oliveira J, Souto M, Morais L, Ramos A, et al. Pediatric hospitalizations for respiratory infections: Before and after SARS-CoV-2. BGMJ [Internet]. 2024 Oct. 22 [cited 2025 Nov. 20];33(3):170-8. Available from: https://revistas.rcaap.pt/bgmj/article/view/33876 | |
| dc.identifier.doi | https://doi.org/10.25753/BirthGrowthMJ.v33.i3.33876 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2183-9417 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10400.16/3801 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.publisher | Unidade Local de Saúde de Santo António | |
| dc.relation.hasversion | https://revistas.rcaap.pt/bgmj/article/view/33876 | |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ | |
| dc.title | Pediatric hospitalizations for respiratory infections: Before and after SARS-CoV-2 | eng |
| dc.title.alternative | Hospitalizações pediátricas por infeções respiratórias: Antes e depois do SARS-CoV-2 | por |
| dc.type | text | |
| oaire.citation.endPage | 178 | |
| oaire.citation.issue | 3 | |
| oaire.citation.startPage | 170 | |
| oaire.citation.title | Nascer e Crescer - Birth and Growth Medical Journal | |
| oaire.citation.volume | 33 | |
| oaire.version | http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85 |