Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic Of Iran

en COVID-19 in Pediatric Patients with and Without Immunocompromised COVID 19 Original Research Original Research Background: The effect of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on pediatric patients with immunodeficiency is a major research priority. .. The objective of this investigation was to perform a comparative assessment of the symptomatology, clinical course, and endpoints of COVID-19 infection in children patients with and without immunocompromised conditions.    Methods: The current retrospective cohort study included children aged ≤18 years with confirmed COVID-19 infection, diagnosed via RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) testing, who were admitted to Ali Asghar Children’s Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from February 20, 2020, to February 20, 2023. A total of 200 patients were included, comprising 100 immunocompromised and 100 non-immunocompromised children, selected from hospital records. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square or Fisher’s exact test, and continuous variables were compared using the independent t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, based on their normality as determined by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.    Results: The average age of patients with immunocompromised conditions was 76.48 ± 58.33 months, while those without such conditions had a mean age of 38.02 ± 44.47 months. Children with immunocompromised conditions had lower exposure to positive contacts (P = 0.010) and exhibited higher rates of cough (P < 0.001), respiratory distress (P = 0.001), vomiting (P = 0.024), diarrhea (P < 0.001), and lower oxygen saturation (P = 0.001). Additionally, they demonstrated significantly higher rates of mortality (P = 0.018), intubation (P = 0.018), and longer hospital stays (P < 0.001).    Conclusion: Pediatric patients with immunocompromised conditions who contracted COVID-19 experienced more severe symptoms than their non-immunocompromised counterparts. These patients had higher mortality and intubation rates, as well as longer hospital stays. This increased risk underscores the necessity for specialized management strategies tailored to this vulnerable population.   COVID-19, Outcomes, Mortality, Pediatrics, Immunocompromised Host 1341 1346 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-9539-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Alireza Nateghian Nateghian.ar@iums.ac.ir 200319475328460095149 200319475328460095149 No 1. Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Hazrat-e Ali Asghar Children's Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mahgol Sadeghian mahgol.sadeghian73@gmail.com 200319475328460095150 200319475328460095150 Yes Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Rozita Hosseini Shamsabadi rozitahoseini@yahoo.com 200319475328460095151 200319475328460095151 No Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Hazrat-e Ali Asghar Children's Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Aziz Eghbali aziz_Eghbali@yahoo.com 200319475328460095152 200319475328460095152 No Clinical Research Development Center of Aliasghar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehdi Abolfazli mehdiabolfazli1366@gmail.com 200319475328460095153 200319475328460095153 No Clinical Research Development Center of Aliasghar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Shahrbanoo Nakhaie nakhaie.sh@iums.ac.ir 200319475328460095154 200319475328460095154 No Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Hazrat-e Ali Asghar Children's Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Rozhan Khezri khezri.rojan@yahoo.com 200319475328460095155 200319475328460095155 No Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Negar Gholampoor Gholampoor.n@iums.ac.ir 200319475328460095156 0009-0006-4895-6599 No Clinical Research Development Center of Aliasghar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mojgan Ramezan nejad m.ramezannejad@gmail.com 200319475328460095157 0009-0007-1431-5643 No Clinical Research Development Center of Aliasghar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Soheila khazraei khazraei81@gmail.com 200319475328460095158 0009-0006-4895-6599 No Clinical Research Development Center of Aliasghar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran