Clinical Manifestations and Outcomes of Critically Ill Children and Adolescents with COVID-19 in New York City

Derespina, Kim R.; Kaushik, Shubhi; Plichta, Anna; Conway, Edward E.; Bercow, Asher; Choi, Jaeun; Eisenberg, Ruth; Gillen, Jennifer; Sen, Anita I.; Hennigan, Claire M.; Zerihun, Lillian M.; Doymaz, Sule; Keenaghan, Michael A.; Jarrin, Stephanie; Oulds, Franscene; Gupta, Manoj; Pierre, Louisdon; Grageda, Melissa; Ushay, H. Michael; Nadkarni, Vinay M.; Agus, Michael S.D.; Medar, Shivanand S.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical manifestations and outcomes of critically ill children with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in New York City. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational study of children 1 month to 21 years admitted March 14 to May 2, 2020 to 9 New York City pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) with SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS: Of 70 children admitted to PICUs: median age 15 [IQR 9, 19] years; 61.4% male; 38.6% Hispanic; 32.9% Black; 74.3% with comorbidities. Fever (72.9%) and cough (71.4%) were the common presenting symptoms. Twelve patients (17%) met severe sepsis criteria; 14 (20%) required vasopressor support; 21 (30%) developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); 9 (12.9%) met acute kidney injury criteria; 1 (1.4%) required renal replacement therapy, and 2 (2.8%) had cardiac arrest. For treatment, 27 (38.6%) patients received hydroxychloroquine; 13 (18.6%) remdesivir; 23 (32.9%) corticosteroids; 3 (4.3%) tocilizumab; 1 (1.4%) anakinra; no patient was given immunoglobulin or convalescent plasma. Forty-nine (70%) patients required respiratory support: 14 (20.0%) non-invasive mechanical ventilation, 20 (28.6%) invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), 7 (10%) prone position, 2 (2.8%) inhaled nitric oxide, and 1 (1.4%) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Nine (45%) of the 20 patients requiring IMV were extubated by day 14 with median IMV duration of 218 [IQR 79, 310.4] hours. Presence of ARDS was significantly associated with duration of PICU and hospital stay, and lower probability of PICU and hospital discharge at hospital day 14 (P < .05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Critically ill children with COVID-19 predominantly are adolescents, have comorbidities, and require some form of respiratory support. The presence of ARDS is significantly associated with prolonged PICU and hospital stay.