Clinical Disparities in COVID-19 Presentation, and Outcomes: A Comparative Study of Pediatric Immunocompetent and Cancer Patients, A Single Center Experience

Introduction: This research study focused upon COVID-19 impact on pediatric patients, particularly those with a history of cancer. The study examined the prevalence of COVID-19 among children, the severity of the disease, and its complications. This study aimed to determine whether pediatric patients with a history of cancer are at a greater risk for severe COVID-19. This study also addressed the scarcity of data on this topic and intended to provide valuable insights into infection outcomes among children with COVID-19 and cancer history. Methods The study was conducted on COVID-19 pediatric patients at the Princess Noorah Oncology Center at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The data were collected as a part of a retrospective study design on a cohort of COVID-19-positive patients, using the “Best Care system” electronic medical records files, from January 2020 to December 2022. A total of 210 patients were included in this study. Descriptive, comparative, and regression analyses were applied to examine differences in demographic / clinical characteristics and COVID-19 morbidity / mortality between patients with / without cancer. Results In terms of COVID-19 symptoms, a significant difference was observed in the presence of fever, with 52.7% of immunocompetent individuals, and 82.1% of cancer patients experiencing fever. There was also a significant difference in diarrhea symptoms; 14.8% of the patients were immunocompetent, and none of the patients with cancer had diarrhea. Hemoglobin levels and neutrophil counts were lower in the cancer group than in the immunocompetent group. Additionally, the lymphocyte counts were lower in the cancer group. Findings from radiological studies indicated that differences in peribronchiolar thickening were greater in the immunocompetent group. The results showed that 10.7% of COVID-19-positive cancer patients died, while none of the immunocompetent patients with COVID-19 died. Conclusions This study provides valuable insights into the disparities in COVID-19 characteristics, symptoms, treatments, and outcomes between immunocompetent individuals and cancer patients. These findings could contribute to a better understanding of how COVID-19 affects different patient populations, and inform clinical decision-making. It is important to consider these results in the context of limitations and implications for future research and medical practices.