Inflammatory Biomarkers Associated with Morbidity and Mortality Among Hospitalized Pediatric Patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 is a disease characterized by rapid global spread, declared a pandemic in March 2020. In addition to being a public health emergency, it became a central focus of worldwide attention, affecting populations of all ages with variable clinical manifestations in both adult and pediatric patients.

Objective: To describe inflammatory biomarkers associated with morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at the Hospital Nacional Dr. Mario Catarino Rivas.

Methods: A descriptive-analytical, retrospective study was conducted in 95 pediatric patients admitted between 2020 and 2021 who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using a 23-variable instrument.

Results: The most affected age groups were infants and preschool-aged children. The most frequent symptoms were fever, cough, and respiratory distress, while gastrointestinal symptoms were less common. A significant association was observed between elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and increased morbidity.

Conclusions: A statistically significant association was found between lactate dehydrogenase levels and moderate to severe clinical presentations in pediatric patients. In contrast, no significant association was observed between C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and ferritin levels and disease severity.