Abstract
Background: Studies suggest that children with asthma experienced improved symptom control and less frequent inpatient admission during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. The characteristics of hospitalized children remain less well defined. Methods: This retrospective cohort study compared patients admitted for asthma during the pandemic with patients hospitalized the year prior at a children's hospital in the Bronx, New York. Results: In the year before the pandemic, 667 children were hospitalized for asthma, compared with 177 children the following year. Children admitted during the pandemic were older (7.8 versus 7.0 years, P = 0.04), more likely underweight (P < 0.01), and more likely to have public insurance (P = 0.02). Additionally, children hospitalized during the pandemic required intensive care (P = 0.03) and magnesium sulfate (P = 0.05) more frequently. Despite this, length of stay remained similar. Conclusion: While inpatient utilization for asthma decreased during the pandemic, children hospitalized were sicker on presentation. The cause of this is likely multifactorial and requires further study.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 174-178 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Pediatric, Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2022 |
Keywords
- COVID-19
- childhood asthma
- hospitalizations
- pandemic
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Immunology and Allergy
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine