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Engels G, Oechsle AL, Schlegtendal A, Maier C, Holzwarth S, Streng A, Lange B, Karch A, Petersmann A, Streeck H, Blaschke-Steinbrecher S, Härtel C, Schroten H, von Kries R, Berner R, Liese J, Brinkmann F, Toepfner N. SARS-CoV-2 sero-immunity and quality of life in children and adolescents in relation to infections and vaccinations: the IMMUNEBRIDGE KIDS cross-sectional study, 2022. Infection 2023; 51:1531-1539. [PMID: 37280412 PMCID: PMC10243264 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-023-02052-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The study evaluates the effects on sero-immunity, health status and quality of life of children and adolescents after the upsurge of the Omicron variant in Germany. METHODS This multicenter cross-sectional study (IMMUNEBRIDGE Kids) was conducted within the German Network University Medicine (NUM) from July to October 2022. SARS-CoV-2- antibodies were measured and data on SARS-CoV-2 infections, vaccinations, health and socioeconomic factors as well as caregiver-reported evaluation on their children's health and psychological status were assessed. RESULTS 497 children aged 2-17 years were included. Three groups were analyzed: 183 pre-schoolchildren aged 2-4 years, 176 schoolchildren aged 5-11 years and 138 adolescents aged 12-18 years. Positive antibodies against the S- or N-antigen of SARS-CoV-2 were detected in 86.5% of all participants (70.0% [128/183] of pre-schoolchildren, 94.3% of schoolchildren [166/176] and 98.6% of adolescents [136/138]). Among all children, 40.4% (201/497) were vaccinated against COVID-19 (pre-schoolchildren 4.4% [8/183], schoolchildren 44.3% [78/176] and adolescents 83.3% [115/138]). SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was lowest in pre-school. Health status and quality of life reported by the parents were very positive at the time of the survey (Summer 2022). CONCLUSION Age-related differences on SARS-CoV-2 sero-immunity could mainly be explained by differences in vaccination rates based on the official German vaccination recommendations as well as differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in the different age groups. Health status and quality of life of almost all children were very good independent of SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination. TRIAL REGISTRATION German Registry for Clinical Trials Identifier Würzburg: DRKS00025546 (registration: 11.09.2021), Bochum: DRKS00022434 (registration:07.08.2020), Dresden: DRKS 00022455 (registration: 23.07.2020).
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldine Engels
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Anna-Lisa Oechsle
- Division of Epidemiology, Institute of Social Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LMU Munich, Haydnstraße 5, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Anne Schlegtendal
- Children's Hospital, Ruhr University of Bochum, Alexandrinenstrasse 5, 44791, Bochum, Germany
| | - Christoph Maier
- Children's Hospital, Ruhr University of Bochum, Alexandrinenstrasse 5, 44791, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sarah Holzwarth
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andrea Streng
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Berit Lange
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124, Brunswick, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), TI BBD, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Andre Karch
- Institute for Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Astrid Petersmann
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Oldenburg, Rahel-Straus-Straße 10, 26133, Oldenburg, Germany
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University of Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruchstrasse, 17475, Greifwald, Germany
| | - Hendrik Streeck
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Gebäude 63, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Brunswick, Germany
| | | | - Christoph Härtel
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Horst Schroten
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Rüdiger von Kries
- Division of Epidemiology, Institute of Social Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LMU Munich, Haydnstraße 5, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Reinhard Berner
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Johannes Liese
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Folke Brinkmann
- Children's Hospital, Ruhr University of Bochum, Alexandrinenstrasse 5, 44791, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Lübeck, Campus Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Nicole Toepfner
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
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Doenhardt M, Gano C, Sorg AL, Diffloth N, Tenenbaum T, von Kries R, Berner R, Armann JP. Burden of Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Hospitalizations during the Omicron Wave in Germany. Viruses 2022; 14:2102. [PMID: 36298657 PMCID: PMC9607436 DOI: 10.3390/v14102102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: When the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 first emerged in Germany in January 2022, data on related disease severity among children and adolescents were not yet available. Given Omicron's high transmissibility, the ability to assess its impact on admission and hospitalization rates in children's hospitals is critical for the purpose of understanding the scope of its burden on the German healthcare system. (2) Methods: From 24 January 2022 to 31 July 2022, SARS-CoV-2 cases admitted to German pediatric hospitals were monitored via a national, clinician-led reporting system (CLRS) established by the German Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (DGPI). Cases treated on general wards and intensive care units, as well as patient age and the need for respiratory support, were recorded. (3) Results: From January to July 2022, a median of 1.7 cases (range 0.4-3) per reporting pediatric hospital per day was hospitalized in general wards, whereas a median of 0.1 cases (range 0-0.4 cases) was admitted to intensive care units. Of all hospitalized patients, 4.2% received respiratory support. (4) Conclusions: Despite the high incidence rates documented in connection with the Omicron variant in early 2022, the number of pediatric hospital admissions, and especially the number of cases with the need for intensive care treatment and respiratory support due to symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, remained relatively low. Higher Omicron incidence rates had only a modest impact on SARS-CoV-2-related admissions and hospitalization in German children's hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maren Doenhardt
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital and Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Christin Gano
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital and Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Anna-Lisa Sorg
- Division of Pediatric Epidemiology, Institute of Social Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 München, Germany
| | - Natalie Diffloth
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital and Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Tobias Tenenbaum
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Medicine, Sana Klinikum Lichtenberg, Academic Teaching Hospital, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10365 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rüdiger von Kries
- Division of Pediatric Epidemiology, Institute of Social Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 München, Germany
| | - Reinhard Berner
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital and Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jakob P. Armann
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital and Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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