Clinical epidemiological characteristics of hospitalized pediatric Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in China

BACKGROUND: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia in children. The COVID-19 pandemic substantially disrupted the transmission dynamics of M. pneumoniae, yet large-scale, nationwide data characterizing the clinical and epidemiological evolution of pediatric MPP in China across the pandemic period remain scarce. METHODS: We analyzed 325,781 MPP hospitalizations from 31 tertiary children's hospitals across mainland China between 2016 and 2023, using the FUTURE Database. Temporal trends and demographic differences in disease severity, co-infections, complications, length of stay (LOS), and hospitalization costs were systematically evaluated. RESULTS: MPP admissions peaked in 2023, accounting for 8.76% of all pediatric hospitalizations. The male-to-female ratio was 1.15:1. children aged 3-6 years accounted for the largest proportion (32.42%), though children aged 6-10 years became predominant in 2023. Severe MPP increased significantly over time (P for trend <0.0001), rising from 3.78% in 2017 to above 13% after 2020. Viral and bacterial co-infection rates rose significantly to 24.13% and 10.09% in 2023, with infants bearing the highest burden. Respiratory complications increased over time to over 10% after 2021, while extrapulmonary complications declined. The median LOS was 7 days (IQR 5-9), and the median cost was 5,891.61CNY (IQR 4,427.86-8,425.95), both decreased significantly from 2016 to 2023. Severe MPP and coinfections were associated with longer LOS and higher costs. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide multicenter study reveals a post-pandemic surge in pediatric MPP in China, with rising severity, a shift towards school-aged children, and increasing co-infection rates. Despite improved healthcare efficiency, growing clinical complexity demands enhanced surveillance, risk stratification, and public health preparedness.