The Omicron variant of COVID-19 and its association with croup in children : a single-centre study in Hong Kong

INTRODUCTION: The fifth wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Hong Kong was dominated by the Omicron variant, which may cause more upper airway involvement in children. This study was performed to identify any associations between the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and croup in children.

METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the electronic medical records of patients admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital in Hong Kong from 1 January 2018 to 31 March 2022 under the diagnostic code for croup (J05.0 in the International Classification of Diseases 10th Edition). Patients were categorised into three groups according to their admission periods, namely, non-COVID-19, COVID-19-pre-Omicron, and COVID-19-Omicron groups. Disease associations and severity were compared according to incidence, Westley Croup Score, length of hospital stay, medication use, respiratory support, and intensive care unit admissions.

RESULTS: The COVID-19 incidence among patients with croup was significantly higher in the COVID-19-Omicron group than in the COVID-19-pre-Omicron group (90.0% vs 2.0%; P<0.001). Compared with patients in the COVID-19-pre-Omicron and non-COVID-19 groups, patients in the COVID-19-Omicron group also had a higher Westley score (moderate and severe disease in the COVID-19-Omicron group: 56.7%; COVID-19-pre-Omicron group: 22.0%, P=0.004; non-COVID-19 group: 24.8%, P<0.001), longer median hospital stay (COVID-19-Omicron group: 3.00 days; COVID-19-pre-Omicron group: 2.00 days, P<0.001; non-COVID-19 group: 2.00 days, P=0.034), and higher mean dexamethasone requirement (COVID-19-Omicron group: 0.78 mg/kg; COVID-19-pre-Omicron group: 0.49 mg/kg, P<0.001; non-COVID-19 group: 0.58 mg/kg, P=0.001).

CONCLUSION: The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is associated with croup and can cause more severe disease in Hong Kong children.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:30

Enthalten in:

Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi - 30(2024), 1 vom: 07. Feb., Seite 44-55

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Lam, M C Y [VerfasserIn]
Lam, D S Y [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

COVID-19
Croup
Hong Kong
Journal Article

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 23.02.2024

Date Revised 23.02.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.12809/hkmj2210455

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM368163938