24 Characteristics and Outcomes of Hospitalized Children by SARS-Cov-2 Lineage: An IMPACT Surveillance Network Analysis
Authors: Farrar Daniel , Bettinger Julie , Audet Annick , Campigotto Aaron , Deeks Shelley , Drouin Olivier , Embree Joanne , Haddad Elie , Halperin Scott , Jadavji Tajdin , Kazmi Kescha , Thibodeau Melanie Laffin , Hepburn Charlotte Moore , Papenburg Jesse , Purewal Rupeena , Sadarangani Manish , Sauvé Laura , Wilson Sarah , Yeung Rae , Top Karina , Kakkar Fatima , Morris Shaun 
Published: September 2023

Introduction/Background

Changes in relative virulence of SARS-CoV-2 lineages among children remain poorly understood, yet are important considerations for vaccination and health resource management. Further evidence is needed to assess the burden of severe paediatric COVID-19 due to the Omicron variant.

Objectives

In this study, we aimed to compare presenting features and disease severity among hospitalized children with COVID-19 in Canada by SARS-CoV-2 lineage.

Design/Methods

Data were collected during two national surveillance studies: the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (April 2020–May 2021) and the Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program, ACTive (June 2021–May 2022). Cases were included if children were &lt;17 years old and hospitalized for COVID-19 (excluding incidental SARS-CoV-2) at one of thirteen sentinel paediatric hospitals. SARS-CoV-2 lineages were classified as “Ancestral”, “pre-Delta” (Alpha, Beta, or Gamma), “Delta”, or “Omicron” based on genetic sequencing or the predominant lineage across Canada at the time of hospitalization. Severe disease was defined as intensive care, ventilatory or hemodynamic support requirements, organ system complications, or death.

Results

We identified 1357 children hospitalized with COVID-19, including 254 (18.7%) ancestral, 105 (7.7%) pre-Delta, 175 (12.9%) Delta, and 823 (60.6%) Omicron (Table). Median age at hospitalization was highest for Delta (3.0 years, interquartile range 0.2–11.1) and lowest for Omicron (1.3 years, interquartile range 0.3–5.4; p&lt;0.001). The proportion of children with comorbid conditions did not differ significantly by lineage, ranging from 44.9% (ancestral) to 54.3% (Delta, p=0.149). COVID-19 vaccination (≥1 doses) was received by &lt;5 pre-Delta cases (&lt;4.8%), six Delta cases (3.4%), and 98 Omicron cases (11.9%). Among unvaccinated patients (n=1251), severe COVID-19 was most common among Delta lineages (34.3%) versus other lineages (24.0% ancestral, 22.3 pre-Delta, 24.8% Omicron; p=0.049).

Conclusion

Our results show more children were hospitalized during Omicron waves than all other waves combined, though Delta was relatively more severe. These findings underscore the substantial burden of Omicron in children.

Potential competing interests

Jesse Papenburg received consultant fees/honoraria from Astra-Zeneca, Merck, and Seegene, and is site PI for industry trials by Astra-Zeneca, MedImmune, Merck, and Sanofi (all outside current work). Rupeena Purewal is a consultant for Verity Pharmaceuticals. Manish Sadarangani has been an investigator on projects funded by GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Moderna, Pfizer, Sanofi-Pasteur, Seqirus, Symvivo, and VBI Vaccines (all outside current work). Fatima Kakkar received salary support from the FRQS Chercheur Boursieurs Program, and honoraria from the Association des Pédiatres du Québec. Shaun Morris has received honoraria for lectures from GlaxoSmithKline and was a member of ad hoc advisory boards for Pfizer Canada and Sanofi Pasteur (all outside current work). No other competing interests are declared.