Children with Multiple Long-Term Conditions Face Heightened Mortality Risk When Hospitalized with COVID-19

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis highlights a stark finding for children with multiple long-term health conditions: they are almost three times more likely to die after being hospitalized with COVID-19 compared to those without these conditions. The research, published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, examined over four million COVID-19 patients, focusing on those in hospital settings, and underscores the heightened risks for this vulnerable population.

The study synthesized data from 111 observational studies conducted in 51 countries, focusing on high-risk and hospitalized COVID-19 patients between January 2020 and May 2023. It found that individuals with multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) have a 2.4-fold higher risk of death following COVID-19 infection compared to those without MLTCs. In children specifically, the mortality risk increased to nearly three times (2.8). Additionally, children with MLTCs were found to have a 3.5 times higher chance of hospitalization and a 4.3 times greater likelihood of requiring mechanical ventilation.

Implications for Healthcare Policies

These findings have significant implications for healthcare policies worldwide. With a growing number of children and adults living with two or more long-term health conditions, the study’s authors emphasize the urgent need for healthcare systems to prioritize this group in public health strategies. They call for healthcare policies that focus on individuals with MLTCs, particularly during pandemics and other public health emergencies, to address the elevated risks and reduce their vulnerability to adverse outcomes.