Association of comorbidities and symptomatic infection and multisystemic inflammatory syndrome due to SARS-CoV-2 in children

Abstract

Background. In children, infection by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) usually occurs asymptomatic or with mild clinical data, only a minor proportion have severe symptoms or a set of post-infectious signs and symptoms described as Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystemic Syndrome (PIMS). Aim: To describe the association of comorbidities with symptomatic infection and PIMS due to SARS-CoV-2 in children. Methods. Analytical cross-sectional study, pediatric patients hospitalized were included. Active infection was diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction and/or antigenic tests. Patients with PIMS were identified by the definition proposed by the World Health Organization. Results: 375 patients were studied, the median age was 3.8 years. 47.7% (n. 179) had comorbidities, the most frequent were: solid neoplasms and/or hematological diseases 17.1% (n. 64), obesity 13.3% (n. 48) and chronic pneumopathies 9, 3% (n. 35). SARS-CoV-2 infection was present in 16.5% (n. 62/375) and PIMS in 10.4% (n. 39/375). Children with obesity showed a higher risk of infection (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.05–4.6) and in those with cancer (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03–0.68) the PIMS risk was lower. Conclusions: The presence of comorbidities modifies the risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2 and PIMS.