Spatial analysis of hospital-related mortality due to COVID-19 among children and adolescents in Brazil

The objective was to perform a spatial analysis of the hospital mortality rate (HMR) due to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) attributed to COVID-19 among children and adolescents in Brazil from 2020 to 2021. A cluster method was used to group federal units (FUs) based on HMR. In 2020, clusters with high HMRs were formed by north/northeast FUs. In 2021, there was a reduction in HMR. Clusters with higher rates remained in the N/NE region. Regional differences were observed in the HMR. The findings may reflect social inequalities and access to hospital care, especially in the under 1-year-old age group due to the severity of the disease in this group.

COVID-19 severe acute respiratory syndrome in Brazilian newborns in 2020-2021

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical characteristics of cases of COVID-19 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Brazilian newborns (NBs) in 2020 and 2021, recorded in the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System (Sistema de Informação da Vigilância Epidemiológica da Gripe - SIVEP-Gripe).

METHODS

The variables analyzed were gender, race/skin color, hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, use of ventilatory support, signs and symptoms (fever, cough, O2 saturation<95%, dyspnea, respiratory distress, diarrhea, and vomiting), progress (death or cure), risk factors/comorbidities. Categorical variables were expressed as absolute and relative frequencies.

RESULTS

We found 1,649 records of COVID-19 SARS in NBs, with a predominance of multiracial babies in both years. The most frequent symptoms in 2020 and 2021 were, respectively: respiratory distress (67.0 and 69.7%), fever (46.3 and 46.2%), and cough (37.0 and 46.3%). In 2020, 30.5% of patients received invasive ventilatory support; in 2021, this number was 41.6%. In addition, more than 55% of cases required ICU admission, and over 16% died.

CONCLUSION

We emphasize the high proportion of cases that required intensive care and progressed to death.

Síndrome Respiratória Aguda Grave por COVID-19 em recém-nascidos no Brasil em 2020–2021

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever as características clínicas dos casos de Síndrome Respiratória Aguda Grave (SRAG) por COVID-19 em recém-nascidos (RNs) em 2020 e 2021, no Brasil, registrados no Sistema de Informação da Vigilância Epidemiológica da Gripe (SIVEP-Gripe). Métodos: As variáveis analisadas foram: sexo, raça/cor, hospitalização, internação em unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI), uso de suporte ventilatório, sinais e sintomas (febre, tosse, saturação de O2<95%, dispneia, desconforto respiratório, diarreia e vômitos), evolução (óbito ou cura), fatores de risco/comorbidades. As variáveis categóricas foram apresentadas em frequências absolutas e relativas. Resultados: Houve 1.649 registros de SRAG por COVID-19 em RNs, com predomínio de pardos nos dois anos. Os sintomas mais frequentes foram, respectivamente, em 2020 e 2021: desconforto respiratório (67,0 e 69,7%), febre (46,3 e 46,2%) e tosse (37,0 e 46,3%). Em 2020, 30,5% dos pacientes receberam suporte ventilatório invasivo, e 41,6% em 2021. Além disso, mais de 55% dos casos precisaram de internação em UTI, e acima de 16% morreram. Conclusão: Destaca-se a elevada proporção de casos que precisou de cuidados intensivos e que evoluíram para óbito.