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Volume 29, Number 4—April 2023
Research Letter

Human Metapneumovirus Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic, Spain

Maria L. García-García, Elena Pérez-Arenas, Pedro Pérez-Hernandez, Iker Falces-Romero, Sara Ruiz, Francisco Pozo, Inmaculada Casas, and Cristina CalvoComments to Author 
Author affiliations: Severo Ochoa University Hospital Leganés, CIBERINFEC ISCIII, Madrid, Spain (M.L. García-García, S. Ruiz); La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain (E. Pérez-Arenas, P. Pérez-Hernandez); La Paz University Hospital, IdiPaz Foundation, CIBERINFEC ISCIII, Madrid (I. Falces-Romero, C. Calvo); Severo Ochoa University Hospital Leganés, Madrid (S. Ruiz); National Center Microbiology, CIBERESP, Madrid (F. Pozo, I. Casas)

Main Article

Table

Comparison of the clinical characteristics of children with human metapneumovirus respiratory infections requiring hospitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021) and previous seasons, Spain

Clinical data 2021, n = 48 2005–2020, n = 498 OR (95% CI) p value
Age, mo
22 +15.9
13 +17.2
NA
0.002
Sex, no. (%)
M 27 (56.2) 289 (58.0) NA 0.875
F
21 (43.8)
209 (42.0)
NA

Temperature >37.9ºC 34 (70.8) 342 (68.7) NA 0.734
Highest temperature 39.0 +0.5 38.7 +0.6 0.008
Hypoxia, oxygen saturation <93%, no. (%) 41 (85.4) 331 (66.5) 3.9 (1.4–9.0) 0.002
Chest infiltrate, no. (%) 34 (70.8) 184 (36.9) 10.2 (3.1–32.9) <0.001
Antimicrobial treatment, no. (%) 26 (54.2) 123 (24.7) 3.2 (1.8–5.6) <0.001
Viral co-infection, no. (%)
19 (39.6)
208 (41.8)
NA
0.632
Time of illness, Nov–Dec, no. (%)
47 (97.9)
9 (1.8)
NA
<0.001
Diagnosis, no. (%) <0.001
Wheezing episode 8 (16.7) 288 (57.8) NA NA
Bronchiolitis 13 (27.1) 144 (28.9) NA NA
Pneumonia
17 (35.4)
44 (8.8)
NA
NA
Blood tests
Leucocytes, cells/mm3 11,140 +5,530 12,112 +4,620 NA 0.589
C-reactive protein
40 +44
37 +54
NA
0.698
Outcome
Duration of stay, d 6.8 +4.8 4.6 +7.1 NA 0.004
Duration of fever, d 3.9 +2.4 2.7 +1.8 NA 0.001
Duration of hypoxia, d 6.2 +4.2 2.9 +2.1 NA <0.001
PICU admission, no. (%) 7 (14.6) 13 (2.6) 5.1 (1.8–8.0) 0.004

*Values are mean (SD) except as indicated. Bold text indicates statistically significant differences. NA, not applicable; OR, odds ratio; PICU, pediatric intensive care unit.

Main Article

Page created: February 01, 2023
Page updated: March 21, 2023
Page reviewed: March 21, 2023
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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