TY - JOUR
T1 - Post-COVID-19 condition in children
T2 - epidemiological evidence stratified by acute disease severity
AU - Lap, Coen R
AU - Brackel, Caroline L H
AU - Winkel, Angelique M A M
AU - Hashimoto, Simone
AU - Haverkort, Milly
AU - Noij, Lieke C E
AU - Alsem, Mattijs W
AU - von Asmuth, Erik G J
AU - Bannier, Michiel A G E
AU - Buddingh, Emmeline P
AU - van Goudoever, Johannes B
AU - Haverman, Lotte
AU - van der Zee, Anke H Maitland-
AU - Mooij, Miriam G
AU - Oostrom, Kim
AU - Pijnenburg, Mariëlle W
AU - Kloosterman, Sanne
AU - Teela, Lorynn
AU - Luijten, Michiel
AU - Tulling, Adam J
AU - Lugthart, Gertjan
AU - Bogaert, Debby
AU - Biesbroek, Giske
AU - van Houten, Marlies A
AU - Terheggen-Lagro, Suzanne W J
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the International Pediatric Research Foundation, Inc 2024.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence of pediatric Post-COVID-19 condition (PPCC), identify risk factors, and assess the quality of life in children with differing severities of acute COVID-19.METHODS: During a prospective longitudinal study with a 1-year follow-up, we compared non-hospitalized (mild) and hospitalized (severe) COVID-19 cases to a negatively tested control group.RESULTS: 579 children were included in this study. Of these, 260 had mild acute disease (median age:8, IQR:6-10), 60 had severe acute disease (median age:1, IQR:0.1-4.0), and 259 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 (NT) (median age:8, IQR:5-10). At three months, 14.6% of the SARS-CoV-2 positive mild group (RR:6.31 (CI 95%: 2.71-14.67)) and 29.2% of the severe group (RR:12.95 (CI 95%: 5.37-31.23)) reported sequelae, versus 2.3% of the NT group. PPCC prevalence in the mild group decreased from 16.1% at one month to 4.4% at one year. Children with PPCC exhibited lower physical health-related quality of life scores and higher fatigue scores than the NT children.CONCLUSIONS: Severe acute COVID-19 in children leads to a higher PPCC prevalence than in mild cases. PPCC prevalence decreases over time. Risk factors at three months include prior medical history, hospital admission, and persistent fatigue one month after a positive test.IMPACT: We demonstrate children with severe COVID-19 are more likely to develop Post-COVID-19 condition than those with mild or no infections, and highlights the risk factors. Here we have stratified by acute disease severity, prospectively included a negative control group, and have demonstrated the heterogeneity in prevalence when utilizing various recent definitions of post-COVID. Identifying risk factors for pediatric post-COVID and highlighting the heterogeneity in prevalence based on various current definitions for post-COVID should aid in correctly identifying potential pediatric post-COVID cases, aiding in early intervention.
AB - BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence of pediatric Post-COVID-19 condition (PPCC), identify risk factors, and assess the quality of life in children with differing severities of acute COVID-19.METHODS: During a prospective longitudinal study with a 1-year follow-up, we compared non-hospitalized (mild) and hospitalized (severe) COVID-19 cases to a negatively tested control group.RESULTS: 579 children were included in this study. Of these, 260 had mild acute disease (median age:8, IQR:6-10), 60 had severe acute disease (median age:1, IQR:0.1-4.0), and 259 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 (NT) (median age:8, IQR:5-10). At three months, 14.6% of the SARS-CoV-2 positive mild group (RR:6.31 (CI 95%: 2.71-14.67)) and 29.2% of the severe group (RR:12.95 (CI 95%: 5.37-31.23)) reported sequelae, versus 2.3% of the NT group. PPCC prevalence in the mild group decreased from 16.1% at one month to 4.4% at one year. Children with PPCC exhibited lower physical health-related quality of life scores and higher fatigue scores than the NT children.CONCLUSIONS: Severe acute COVID-19 in children leads to a higher PPCC prevalence than in mild cases. PPCC prevalence decreases over time. Risk factors at three months include prior medical history, hospital admission, and persistent fatigue one month after a positive test.IMPACT: We demonstrate children with severe COVID-19 are more likely to develop Post-COVID-19 condition than those with mild or no infections, and highlights the risk factors. Here we have stratified by acute disease severity, prospectively included a negative control group, and have demonstrated the heterogeneity in prevalence when utilizing various recent definitions of post-COVID. Identifying risk factors for pediatric post-COVID and highlighting the heterogeneity in prevalence based on various current definitions for post-COVID should aid in correctly identifying potential pediatric post-COVID cases, aiding in early intervention.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85205323580&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41390-024-03597-3
DO - 10.1038/s41390-024-03597-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 39333387
SN - 0031-3998
VL - 97
SP - 1016
EP - 1024
JO - Pediatric Research
JF - Pediatric Research
ER -