Comparison of inflammatory markers, coagulation indicators and outcomes between influenza and COVID-19 infection amongst children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Influenza and COVID-19 patients share similar features and outcomes amongst adults. However, the difference between these diseases is not explored in paediatric age group especially in terms of inflammatory markers, coagulation profile and outcomes. Hence, we did this review to compare the inflammatory, coagulation features and outcomes between influenza and COVID-19 infected children.

METHODS

Literature search was done in PubMed Central, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane library, Google Scholar & ScienceDirect from November 2019 to May 2022. Risk of bias assessment was done through Newcastle Ottawa scale. Meta-analysis was done using random-effects model and the final pooled estimate was reported as pooled odds ratio (OR) or standardized mean difference (SMD) along with 95 % confidence interval (CI) depending on the type of outcome.

RESULTS

About 16 studies were included with most studies having higher risk of bias. Influenza paediatric patients had significantly higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (pooled SMD = 0.60; 95%CI: 0.30-0.91; I = 0 %), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (pooled SMD = 2.01; 95%CI: 0.37-3.66; I = 98.4 %) and prothrombin time (PT) (pooled SMD = 2.12; 95%CI: 0.44-3.80; I = 98.3 %) when compared to paediatric COVID-19 patients. There was no significant difference in terms of features like CRP, procalcitonin, serum albumin, aPTT, mortality and need for mechanical ventilation.

CONCLUSION

Inflammatory markers like ESR, LDH and PT was significantly higher in influenza patients when compared to COVID-19 in children, while rest of the markers and adverse clinical outcomes were similar between both the groups. Identification of these biomarkers has helped in understanding the distinctness of COVID-19 and influenza virus and develop better management strategies.