Rousseau MC., Hully M., Milh M., Juzeau D., Pollez B., Peudenier S., Bahi-Buisson N., Gautheron V., Chabrol B., Billette de Villemeur T.
Arch Pediatr. 2021 Jul;28(5):374-380. doi: 10.1016/j.arcped.2021.04.004
Mediation/Education :
Little is known about the clinical profile of COVID-19 disease in people with multiple disabilities. The researchers therefore carried out a retrospective study to describe the characteristics of COVID-19 infection in this group of patients.
The authors defined polyhandicap as the combination of motor deficiencies, profound mental retardation and the onset of brain damage before the age of 6. Cases of COVID-19 were identified either by a positive laboratory test, or by the presence of compatible symptoms and cohabitation with other people with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, whether in an institution or at home.
Data collected included sociodemographic information, clinical and paraclinical features, and management and treatment of COVID-19 infection. The study identified 98 cases, with a balanced distribution between the sexes and an average age of 38.5 years (from 3 months to 73 years).
The results of this study showed that 46% of patients had few symptoms. Among the most frequent symptoms were breathing difficulties, digestive symptoms and neurological disorders. Eighteen patients required hospitalization, and four adults died. The average duration of infection was longer in adults, and taste and smell disorders were more frequent in older patients.
This study suggests that people with multiple disabilities often present with mildly symptomatic forms of COVID-19 infection, but can also experience severe complications and even death. Clinicians should be aware that the symptoms of COVID-19 in these individuals are often extra-respiratory signs, mainly digestive and neurological disorders, which may facilitate early identification of COVID-19 infection in this particular patient population.