The second year of the pandemic saw a surge of hospitalizations for COVID-19 and other infections among Canadian children age 0 to 4. Data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) shows that COVID-19 was the sixth most common reason kids in this age group were hospitalized in 2021–2022. This represents an increase of more than 600%, with a total of 2,315 COVID-19 hospitalizations among this cohort in 2021–2022 compared with 325 hospitalizations in 2020–2021. See Inpatient Hospitalization, Surgery and Newborn Statistics, 2021–2022 (XLSX).
CIHI’s report shows that in addition to an increase in hospitalizations for COVID-19, respiratory infections (including pneumonia) and other viral infections returned as top 10 diagnoses that required hospitalization for Canadians age 0 to 4 in 2021–2022. The increase in hospitalizations for virus-related illnesses coincided with the easing of public health measures across the country.
“This uptick in hospitalizations for COVID-19, respiratory infections and other viral illnesses seen among the youngest Canadians in the second year of the pandemic is concerning both for the health of our youngest and most vulnerable, and for the additional strain placed on health systems and health care workers that were already stretched thin,” said Juliana Wu, Director, Acute and Ambulatory Care Information Services, CIHI. “We are continuing to monitor hospital activity in this third year of the pandemic to understand the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on Canadians.”
COVID-19 continued to present challenges for Canadians of all ages and was the second most common reason for hospitalization in Canada in 2021–2022, jumping from seventh in 2020–2021. This represents an increase of more than 60%, with a total of 77,344 hospitalizations in 2021–2022 compared with 47,715 hospitalizations in 2020–2021.
Quick facts
Top 10 reasons for hospitalization, Canadians age 0 to 4
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Top 10 reasons for hospitalization, Canadians of all ages
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About CIHI
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing essential health information to all Canadians.
CIHI works closely with federal, provincial and territorial partners and stakeholders throughout Canada to gather, package and disseminate information to inform policy, management, care and research, leading to better and more equitable health outcomes for all Canadians.
Health information has become one of society’s most valuable public goods. For more than 25 years, CIHI has set the pace on data privacy, security, accessibility and innovation to improve Canada’s health systems.
CIHI: Better data. Better decisions. Healthier Canadians.
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