COVID-19 in pediatric palliative care patients: Multicenter, retrospective cohort study.

Background: Studies have shown the risk factors for COVID-19 severity in children, including comorbidities, but information on the infection course in children with life-limiting conditions is sparse.

Aim: To describe the effect of COVID-19 on pediatric patients receiving palliative care due to life-limiting conditions.

Design: We conducted retrospective cohort study. The WHO Clinical Progression Scale was used to measure COVID-19 severity.

Setting/participants: Seven of the 24 invited pediatric palliative care centers participated in this study. We analyzed the medical records of children under palliative care with confirmed COVID-19 (January 2020-April 2022).

Results: Records of 60 patients with COVID-19 aged 0.24 to 21.6 years (mean (SD); 9.8 (6.6)) were collected. The largest group of patients with COVID-19 was children with congenital malformations and chromosomal abnormalities (42%); the most common manifestation was fever (85%). Bacterial coinfection was confirmed in 17 (28%) children. Fifteen (25%) children required hospitalization, including four admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Mild COVID-19 was identified in 44 (73%) children, moderate in 11 (18%), severe in 3 (5%), and death in 2 (3%). Six of the 20 eligible children were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, followed by 16 mothers and fathers.

Conclusion: In the study population initial presentation of COVID-19 was predominantly a mild; however, the small sample size precluded definitive conclusions. For children under palliative care, we should identify if they have an advance care plan for COVID-19, such as desires for intensive care support. Further studies are needed to define the short and long-term effects of COVID-19 in children with life-limiting conditions.