Study Reveals Long COVID Patterns in Youth

On August 15, 2024, a study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published in JAMA identified distinct patterns of long COVID symptoms among school-age children (ages 6-11) and adolescents (ages 12-17). This research is part of the NIH's Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative, aimed at understanding and addressing long COVID, a condition where symptoms persist after a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Study Overview

The observational study, conducted from March 2022 to December 2023, involved 3,860 children and adolescents with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection across more than 60 U.S. sites. A control group of 1,516 uninfected children and adolescents was also included to differentiate symptoms related specifically to SARS-CoV-2 from those influenced by broader pandemic effects.

Caregivers completed a survey detailing 75 prolonged symptoms across major body systems occurring at least 90 days post-infection, lasting for at least a month. Researchers used statistical methods to identify symptom combinations specific to each age group, creating a long COVID research index to indicate the likelihood of the condition.

Findings

The study identified 18 symptoms more common in school-age children, including headache (57%), memory or focusing issues (44%), trouble sleeping (44%), and stomach pain (43%). Other reported symptoms not in the research index were body pain, daytime tiredness, and anxiety.

In adolescents, 17 prevalent symptoms included daytime tiredness (80%), body pain (60%), headaches (55%), and memory issues (47%). Anxiety and trouble sleeping were also commonly reported but not included in the index.

Fourteen symptoms were shared between the age groups. The study noted greater symptom overlap between adults and adolescents compared to school-age children, highlighting the need for age-specific long COVID research.

Research Implications

The study established separate research indexes for school-age children and adolescents, revealing both overlapping and distinct symptom patterns. Of the 751 school-age children with COVID-19, 20% met the long COVID index threshold. For adolescents, 14% of the 3,109 with SARS-CoV-2 infection met the threshold. These figures are not reflective of general incidence but indicate a significant presence of long COVID in the studied populations.

Researchers emphasize that the research index serves as a tool for identifying common symptoms rather than a clinical guideline. Future research will focus on understanding long COVID in younger children, aged 5 and under.

Highlights

• NIH study identifies distinct long COVID patterns in school-age children and adolescents.
• 18 symptoms more common in school-age children; 17 symptoms prevalent in adolescents.
• Study highlights age-specific symptom overlap and distinct patterns from adults.
• Research index developed to aid in long COVID symptom identification, not clinical care.
• Future research will target understanding long COVID in very young children.

Data source: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-funded-study-finds-long-covid-affects-adolescents-differently-younger-children