The severity of pediatric COVID-19 during hospitalization is not associated with mortality within six months of discharge.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has become a global pandemic. However, studies examining the outcomes for pediatric patients after hospital discharge, post-COVID-19, and the predictive factors influencing their high mortality rates, are still limited, especially in Indonesia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the predictor that predict mortality six months after hospitalization for COVID-19.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. The participants were children who were admitted to Dr. Sardjito General Hospital from February-April 2022. The inclusion criteria were pediatric patients who were hospitalized in the pediatric ward and discharged after recovering or completing isolation. COVID-19 hospitalization deaths and incomplete medical records were omitted from the study. Bivariate analysis was performed with chi-square log rank test. Kaplan-Meier method was used for calculating the cumulative survival between comparison groups of the predictor variables. Multivariate analysis was performed with a Cox regression. The relationships between the variables are presented as the Hazard ratios (HRs), confidence intervals of 95% (95%CI), and statistical significance levels, with p < 0.05.

Results: Among the 114 patients studied, the mortality rate during the six months after COVID-19 was 29.8%. The multivariate analysis revealed that mortality was correlated with comorbidities (p < 0.021; HR 11.415; CI 95% 1.449-89.912) and obesity (p = 0.032; HR 4.617; CI 95% 1.139-18.721).

Conclusion: The presence of comorbidities and obesity are significant predictors of mortality in pediatric patients with COVID-19 within six months following hospital discharge.

Clinical trial number: Not applicable.