Second year of COVID saw spike in youth hospitalizations

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This article was published 23/02/2023 (927 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE second year of the COVID-19 pandemic brought a dramatic increase in hospitalizations, particularly for babies and toddlers, says a new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

The latest data — released today — show COVID-19 and other respiratory infections were more commonly to blame for hospitalizations among the youngest Canadians compared with earlier in the pandemic. The information could help shape hospital planning in the future.

COVID hospitalizations among children younger than five years old spiked by 600 per cent across Canada in 2021, becoming the sixth-most common reason for hospitalization in that age group nationally.

Manitoba fared slightly better than the national average, with COVID coming in as the 13th-most common diagnosis for the youngest hospitalized children.

However, overall, COVID-19 was still the second-most common reason for Manitobans to be hospitalized in 2021-22.

That figure mirrors national trends: COVID-19 was the seventh-most common reason for hospitalization among Canadians in 2020-21, and the disease caused by the novel coronavirus jumped to second place last year as pandemic restrictions eased.

The reasons for the increase likely have to do with “lots more opportunities for human interaction,” including the end of remote work, return to school, and resumption of in-person activities, said Tanya Khan, CIHI manager of clinical administrative databases, operations.

Although Manitoba was one of the provinces where COVID-19 didn’t crack the top 10 for youngest children’s hospitalizations, the increase in most of the country was alarming, Khan said.

This data doesn’t capture the fall of 2022, when children’s hospitals across Canada were inundated with simultaneous waves of flu, COVID and respiratory syncytial virus.

“I’m really hoping that this data highlights that we are still very much living in a pandemic, and we have to continue to remain vigilant. Interventions like vaccinations, masking, hand-washing and staying at home when you’re sick are some of the ways that we can help prevent illness,” Khan said.

She said the information is intended to help Canada’s health-care system plan for the future.

“Our hope is that by releasing this information that we’re able to help health system planners better plan for care in their health-care systems, help with hospital resource planning, and really helping them make informed decisions to improve the health of all Canadians, especially our children — the most vulnerable.”

In Manitoba, like in all provinces and territories, giving birth is the top reason for hospitalization among adults.

katie.may@winnipegfreepress.com