Asthma as a Risk Factor for Hospitalization in Children and Youth With COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: Studies examining the association between asthma and hospitalization among children and youth with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have yielded mixed results. Both asthma and COVID-19 hospitalization are characterized by racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities which also pattern geographically, yet no studies to date have adjusted for neighborhood context in the assessment of this association.

Methods: Mixed effects logistic regression was used to estimate the association between asthma and hospitalization due to COVID-19 in a sample of 28,997 children and youth diagnosed with COVID-19 in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, from March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2022. Models adjusted for individual-level sociodemographic factors (age, gender, race, ethnicity and city/suburb residence) and season of diagnosis were examined as moderators. Random intercepts by census tract accounted for geographic variation in neighborhood factors and census tract-level measures of education, health and environment, and social and economic factors were assessed via childhood opportunity indices.

Results: Asthma history was statistically significantly associated with hospitalization due to COVID-19 among children and youth. Hospitalization rates varied statistically significantly by census tract, and results were unchanged after accounting for childhood opportunity indices and census tract. Season of diagnosis was not found to moderate the effect of asthma history on COVID-19 hospitalization.

Conclusion: Our study suggests that asthma history is a risk factor for hospitalization in the context of COVID-19 infection among children and youth, warranting observation and follow-up of children with asthma as well as continued measures to prevent COVID-19 in this population.