Clinical and laboratory differences between pediatric hospitalized patients with sickle cell disease infected or not by SARS-CoV-2.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify clinical and complete blood count differences between pediatric hospitalized patients with sickle cell disease infected or not by SARS-CoV-2 and compare the complete blood count of patients with sickle cell disease infected by SARS-CoV-2 before hospitalization and on admission. METHODS: This study was a single-center prospective cohort. Data were collected from medical records of pediatric inpatients with sickle cell disease under 18 years old infected or not with SARS-CoV-2 from the first visit to the hospital until discharge and from the last medical appointment. All patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Among 57 pediatric patients with sickle cell disease hospitalized from March to November 2020 in a Brazilian academic hospital, 11 (19.3%) had a positive result for SARS-CoV-2. Patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 had a higher prevalence of comorbidities than the ones who were not infected (63.6 vs. 30.4%; p=0.046). During hospital stay, no clinical or complete blood count differences between groups were found. There was a decrease in eosinophil count on hospital admission in patients with sickle cell disease infected by SARS-CoV-2 (p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric hospitalized patients with sickle cell disease infected by SARS-CoV-2 had more comorbidities and had a decrease in eosinophil count between hospital admission and the last medical appointment.

Clinical and laboratory differences between pediatric hospitalized patients with sickle cell disease infected or not by SARS-CoV-2 / Diferenças clínicas e laboratoriais entre pacientes pediátricos hospitalizados com doença falciforme infectados ou não por SARS-CoV-2

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to identify clinical and complete blood count differences between pediatric hospitalized patients with sickle cell disease infected or not by SARS-CoV-2 and compare the complete blood count of patients with sickle cell disease infected by SARS-CoV-2 before hospitalization and on admission. Methods: This study was a single-center prospective cohort. Data were collected from medical records of pediatric inpatients with sickle cell disease under 18 years old infected or not with SARS-CoV-2 from the first visit to the hospital until discharge and from the last medical appointment. All patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: Among 57 pediatric patients with sickle cell disease hospitalized from March to November 2020 in a Brazilian academic hospital, 11 (19.3%) had a positive result for SARS-CoV-2. Patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 had a higher prevalence of comorbidities than the ones who were not infected (63.6 vs. 30.4%; p=0.046). During hospital stay, no clinical or complete blood count differences between groups were found. There was a decrease in eosinophil count on hospital admission in patients with sickle cell disease infected by SARS-CoV-2 (p=0.008). Conclusions: Pediatric hospitalized patients with sickle cell disease infected by SARS-CoV-2 had more comorbidities and had a decrease in eosinophil count between hospital admission and the last medical appointment.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar diferenças clínicas e laboratoriais entre pacientes pediátricos hospitalizados com doença falciforme infectados ou não por SARS-CoV-2 e comparar o hemograma completo de pacientes com doença falciforme infectados por SARS-CoV-2 antes da hospitalização e durante a admissão. Métodos: Coorte prospectiva unicêntrica, cujos dados foram coletados em prontuários de pacientes pediátricos internados com doença falciforme, menores de 18 anos, infectados ou não com SARS-CoV-2, desde a primeira visita ao hospital até a alta e desde a última consulta médica. Todos os pacientes foram testados para SARS-CoV-2 pela transcrição reversa seguida de reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real. Resultados: Dos 57 pacientes pediátricos com doença falciforme internados de março a novembro de 2020 em um hospital universitário brasileiro, 11 (19,3%) apresentaram resultado positivo para SARS-CoV-2. Pacientes infectados pelo SARS-CoV-2 apresentaram maior prevalência de comorbidades do que aqueles não infectados (63,6 vs. 30,4%; p=0,046). Durante a internação hospitalar, não foram encontradas diferenças clínicas ou laboratoriais entre os grupos. Houve diminuição da contagem de eosinófilos na admissão hospitalar em pacientes com doença falciforme infectados pelo SARS-CoV-2 (p=0,008). Conclusões: Pacientes pediátricos hospitalizados com doença falciforme infectados pelo SARS-CoV-2 apresentaram mais comorbidades e diminuição da contagem de eosinófilos entre a admissão hospitalar e a última consulta médica.