Pre-existing illness strongest indicator of risk for severe COVID-19 in children--study

Pre-existing illness strongest indicator of risk for severe COVID-19 in children ANAHEIM, Calif. — A study found that having a pre-existing comorbidity was the strongest indicator of risk for severe COVID-19 in children, according to data reported here.

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Among the 218,759 children who tested positive, 4% were either hospitalized, required ICU care or ventilation, or died. “By far,” the researchers reported, the strongest predictors of these severe outcomes in all groups were higher a score on the pediatric comorbidity index — with ORs of 2.27 (95% CI, 2.02-2.56), 4.21 (95% CI, 3.62-4.91] and 5.33 (95% CI, 4.75-5.97), respectively — or residency in the South.