Survival analysis and mortality predictors of COVID-19 in Moroccan children: A multicenter study

Objectives: Although COVID-19 in children is benign, it has revealed a critical vulnerability in the neonatal population. This study aimed to identify the mortality predictors and determinants of survival in children affected by COVID-19 in the Marrakech-Safi (RMS) region of Morocco. Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter cohort study conducted among children hospitalized with COVID-19 between March 2020 and December 2021 in two RMS hospitals. All patients aged under 15 years with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included; incomplete files, misdiagnoses, and transferred patients were excluded. Overall survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier curve, associations were examined with the log-rank test, and predictors were identified using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results: = 0.005) as major mortality predictors. Conclusion: Implementing rapid intervention and preventive medicine strategies is essential to reducing morbidity and mortality in pediatric populations during future public health emergencies.