Volume 29, Number 4—April 2023
Research Letter
Human Metapneumovirus Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic, Spain
Maria L. García-García, Elena Pérez-Arenas, Pedro Pérez-Hernandez, Iker Falces-Romero, Sara Ruiz, Francisco Pozo, Inmaculada Casas, and Cristina Calvo
Table
Comparison of the clinical characteristics of children with human metapneumovirus respiratory infections requiring hospitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021) and previous seasons, Spain
| Clinical data | 2021, n = 48 | 2005–2020, n = 498 | OR (95% CI) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, mo |
22 +15.9 |
13 +17.2 |
NA |
0.002 |
| Sex, no. (%) | ||||
| M | 27 (56.2) | 289 (58.0) | NA | 0.875 |
| F |
21 (43.8) |
209 (42.0) |
NA |
|
| Temperature >37.9ºC | 34 (70.8) | 342 (68.7) | NA | 0.734 |
| Highest temperature | 39.0 +0.5 | 38.7 +0.6 | 0.008 | |
| Hypoxia, oxygen saturation <93%, no. (%) | 41 (85.4) | 331 (66.5) | 3.9 (1.4–9.0) | 0.002 |
| Chest infiltrate, no. (%) | 34 (70.8) | 184 (36.9) | 10.2 (3.1–32.9) | <0.001 |
| Antimicrobial treatment, no. (%) | 26 (54.2) | 123 (24.7) | 3.2 (1.8–5.6) | <0.001 |
| Viral co-infection, no. (%) |
19 (39.6) |
208 (41.8) |
NA |
0.632 |
| Time of illness, Nov–Dec, no. (%) |
47 (97.9) |
9 (1.8) |
NA |
<0.001 |
| Diagnosis, no. (%) | <0.001 | |||
| Wheezing episode | 8 (16.7) | 288 (57.8) | NA | NA |
| Bronchiolitis | 13 (27.1) | 144 (28.9) | NA | NA |
| Pneumonia |
17 (35.4) |
44 (8.8) |
NA |
NA |
| Blood tests | ||||
| Leucocytes, cells/mm3 | 11,140 +5,530 | 12,112 +4,620 | NA | 0.589 |
| C-reactive protein |
40 +44 |
37 +54 |
NA |
0.698 |
| Outcome | ||||
| Duration of stay, d | 6.8 +4.8 | 4.6 +7.1 | NA | 0.004 |
| Duration of fever, d | 3.9 +2.4 | 2.7 +1.8 | NA | 0.001 |
| Duration of hypoxia, d | 6.2 +4.2 | 2.9 +2.1 | NA | <0.001 |
| PICU admission, no. (%) | 7 (14.6) | 13 (2.6) | 5.1 (1.8–8.0) | 0.004 |
*Values are mean (SD) except as indicated. Bold text indicates statistically significant differences. NA, not applicable; OR, odds ratio; PICU, pediatric intensive care unit.
Page created: February 01, 2023
Page updated: March 21, 2023
Page reviewed: March 21, 2023
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