A 24-month National Cohort Study examining long-term effects of COVID-19 in children and young people

Abstract Background Some children and young people (CYP) infected with SARS-COV-2 experience impairing symptoms post-infection, known as post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). Using data from the National Long COVID in Children and Young People (CloCk) study, we report symptoms and their impact up to 24-mon...

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Main Authors: Terence Stephenson, Snehal M. Pinto Pereira, Manjula D. Nugawela, Emma Dalrymple, Anthony Harnden, Elizabeth Whittaker, Isobel Heyman, Tamsin Ford, Terry Segal, Trudie Chalder, Shamez N. Ladhani, Kelsey McOwat, Ruth Simmons, Laila Xu, Lana Fox-Smith, CLoCk Consortium, Roz Shafran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Communications Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-024-00657-x
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author Terence Stephenson
Snehal M. Pinto Pereira
Manjula D. Nugawela
Emma Dalrymple
Anthony Harnden
Elizabeth Whittaker
Isobel Heyman
Tamsin Ford
Terry Segal
Trudie Chalder
Shamez N. Ladhani
Kelsey McOwat
Ruth Simmons
Laila Xu
Lana Fox-Smith
CLoCk Consortium
Roz Shafran
author_facet Terence Stephenson
Snehal M. Pinto Pereira
Manjula D. Nugawela
Emma Dalrymple
Anthony Harnden
Elizabeth Whittaker
Isobel Heyman
Tamsin Ford
Terry Segal
Trudie Chalder
Shamez N. Ladhani
Kelsey McOwat
Ruth Simmons
Laila Xu
Lana Fox-Smith
CLoCk Consortium
Roz Shafran
author_sort Terence Stephenson
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Some children and young people (CYP) infected with SARS-COV-2 experience impairing symptoms post-infection, known as post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). Using data from the National Long COVID in Children and Young People (CloCk) study, we report symptoms and their impact up to 24-months post-infection. Methods CloCk is a cohort of CYP in England aged 11-to-17-years when they had a SARS-CoV-2 PCR-test (between September 2020 and March 2021). Of 31,012 eligible CYP 24-months post-PCR test, 12,632 participated (response = 40.7%). CYP were grouped by infection status: ‘initial test-negatives; no subsequent positive-test’ (NN); ‘initial test-negatives; subsequent positive-test’ (NP); ‘initial test-positives; no reported re-infection’ (PN); and ‘initial test-positives; reported re-infection’ (PP). The Delphi research definition of PCC in CYP was operationalised; symptom severity/impact and validated scales (e.g., Chalder Fatigue Scale) were recorded. We examine symptom profiles 24-month post-index-test by infection status. Results 7.2% of CYP consistently fulfil the PCC definition at 3-, 6-, 12- and 24-months. These CYPs have a median of 5-to-6 symptoms at each time-point. Between 20% and 25% of all infection status groups report 3+ symptoms 24-months post-testing; 10–25% experience 5+ symptoms. The reinfected group has more symptoms than the other positive groups; the NN group has the lowest symptom burden (p < 0.001). PCC is more common in older CYPs and in the most deprived. Symptom severity/impact is higher in those fulfilling the PCC definition. Conclusions The discrepancy in the proportion of CYP fulfilling the Delphi PCC definition at 24-months and those consistently fulfilling the definition across time, highlights the importance of longitudinal studies and the need to consider clinical impairment and range of symptoms.
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spelling doaj-art-323be53ae6ff4199bbda8b45d545f82a2024-12-08T12:44:24ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Medicine2730-664X2024-12-014111210.1038/s43856-024-00657-xA 24-month National Cohort Study examining long-term effects of COVID-19 in children and young peopleTerence Stephenson0Snehal M. Pinto Pereira1Manjula D. Nugawela2Emma Dalrymple3Anthony Harnden4Elizabeth Whittaker5Isobel Heyman6Tamsin Ford7Terry Segal8Trudie Chalder9Shamez N. Ladhani10Kelsey McOwat11Ruth Simmons12Laila Xu13Lana Fox-Smith14CLoCk ConsortiumRoz Shafran15UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthDivision of Surgery & Interventional Science, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College LondonUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of OxfordDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College LondonUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthDepartment of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeUniversity College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustDepartment of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College LondonImmunisations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases, UK Health Security AgencyImmunisations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases, UK Health Security AgencyImmunisations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases, UK Health Security AgencyUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthAbstract Background Some children and young people (CYP) infected with SARS-COV-2 experience impairing symptoms post-infection, known as post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). Using data from the National Long COVID in Children and Young People (CloCk) study, we report symptoms and their impact up to 24-months post-infection. Methods CloCk is a cohort of CYP in England aged 11-to-17-years when they had a SARS-CoV-2 PCR-test (between September 2020 and March 2021). Of 31,012 eligible CYP 24-months post-PCR test, 12,632 participated (response = 40.7%). CYP were grouped by infection status: ‘initial test-negatives; no subsequent positive-test’ (NN); ‘initial test-negatives; subsequent positive-test’ (NP); ‘initial test-positives; no reported re-infection’ (PN); and ‘initial test-positives; reported re-infection’ (PP). The Delphi research definition of PCC in CYP was operationalised; symptom severity/impact and validated scales (e.g., Chalder Fatigue Scale) were recorded. We examine symptom profiles 24-month post-index-test by infection status. Results 7.2% of CYP consistently fulfil the PCC definition at 3-, 6-, 12- and 24-months. These CYPs have a median of 5-to-6 symptoms at each time-point. Between 20% and 25% of all infection status groups report 3+ symptoms 24-months post-testing; 10–25% experience 5+ symptoms. The reinfected group has more symptoms than the other positive groups; the NN group has the lowest symptom burden (p < 0.001). PCC is more common in older CYPs and in the most deprived. Symptom severity/impact is higher in those fulfilling the PCC definition. Conclusions The discrepancy in the proportion of CYP fulfilling the Delphi PCC definition at 24-months and those consistently fulfilling the definition across time, highlights the importance of longitudinal studies and the need to consider clinical impairment and range of symptoms.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-024-00657-x
spellingShingle Terence Stephenson
Snehal M. Pinto Pereira
Manjula D. Nugawela
Emma Dalrymple
Anthony Harnden
Elizabeth Whittaker
Isobel Heyman
Tamsin Ford
Terry Segal
Trudie Chalder
Shamez N. Ladhani
Kelsey McOwat
Ruth Simmons
Laila Xu
Lana Fox-Smith
CLoCk Consortium
Roz Shafran
A 24-month National Cohort Study examining long-term effects of COVID-19 in children and young people
Communications Medicine
title A 24-month National Cohort Study examining long-term effects of COVID-19 in children and young people
title_full A 24-month National Cohort Study examining long-term effects of COVID-19 in children and young people
title_fullStr A 24-month National Cohort Study examining long-term effects of COVID-19 in children and young people
title_full_unstemmed A 24-month National Cohort Study examining long-term effects of COVID-19 in children and young people
title_short A 24-month National Cohort Study examining long-term effects of COVID-19 in children and young people
title_sort 24 month national cohort study examining long term effects of covid 19 in children and young people
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-024-00657-x
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