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. 2021 Oct 20;100(2):98–107. doi: 10.2471/BLT.21.285579

Table 4. Risk of illness, death and undernutrition in infants born during the COVID-19 pandemic admitted to hospital, Bangladesh, March 2020–February 2021 .

Variable aORa (95% CI)
Illness and death  
Acute diarrhoea (watery and/or invasive) 1.24 (0.86–1.79)
Some or severe dehydration 1.43 (1.26–1.64)
History of fever 1.06 (0.91–1.24)
Convulsions (during and/or after admission) 1.74 (1.30–2.34)
Pneumonia 0.92 (0.78–1.08)
Severe pneumonia 0.77 (0.62–0.94)
Sepsis 2.21 (1.76–2.78)
Severe sepsis or septic shock 1.37 (0.90–2.09)
Hospital-acquired infection 0.75 (0.47–1.19)
Death 1.12 (0.67–1.86)
Anthropometric indices
Stuntingb 1.10 (0.96–1.27)
Wastingc 1.21 (1.03–1.41)
Severe acute malnutritiond 0.91 (0.79–1.05)
Electrolyte imbalance
Hypernatraemiae 1.43 (1.09–1.88)
Hyponatraemiaf 0.50 (0.39–0.64)
Hyperkalaemiag 0.92 (0.65–1.30)
Hypokalaemiah 0.85 (0.65–1.11)
Raised creatininei 1.38 (1.03–1.86)

COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019; aOR: adjusted odds ratio; CI: confidence interval; SD: standard deviation.

a OR adjusted for age and sex.

b Length-for-age z-score < −2 SD.

c Weight-for-length z-score < −2 SD.

d Weight-for-length z-score < −3 SD or presence of bilateral pedal oedema, irrespective of anthropometric indicators.

e Serum sodium ≥ 150 mmol/L.

f Serum sodium < 135 mmol/L.

g Serum potassium > 5.5 mmol/L.

h Serum potassium < 3.5 mmol/L.

i Serum creatinine > 35 μmol/L for < 12 months and > 65 μmol/L for 12–59 months.

Note: Reference categories are infants born and admitted to hospital before the COVID-19 pandemic, March 2019–February 2020.