Retrospective Review of COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction Test Results of a Children's Hospital According to Person and Time Characteristics

Objective: This study aims to describe the patient and temporal characteristics of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results for children who underwent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing at a pediatric hospital between January 1, 2021, and August 31, 2022. Method: This descriptive archival study was conducted by examining the records of COVID-19 PCR test results (n=36, 102) performed at a pediatric hospital located in the Aegean Region. Demographic data, the time the test performed, and characteristics of the PCR test results obtained from the records. Ethical approval for the study obtained from the relevant ethics committee of the hospital where the research conducted. Statistical analysis of the data performed using the SPSS 27.0 trial version. Statistical significance was considered at p<0.05. Results: The average age of the children included in the study was X=8.25 +/- 5.56, with 56.6% being male. The highest proportion of children tested with PCR found to be 1-year-olds, at 11.7%. Of the 36,102 children who were tested, 12.7% had a positive PCR result, with the average age of these children being chi=8.48 +/- 5.66 and 52.3% were male. PCR positivity rates vary across different months. A statistically significant difference was found in PCR test results based on the gender of the children (p<0.05). The PCR positivity rates varied significantly by season (chi(2)=420.323, p<0.001). Regression analysis conducted in our study demonstrated that gender and seasonal variables were significant determinants of PCR outcomes. Conclusion: The PCR test results of children suspected of having COVID-19 found to vary according to gender and season.