Post-COVID Condition in Adults and Children Living in the Same Household in Italy: A Prospective Cohort Study Using the ISARIC Global Follow-Up Protocol

Frontiers in Pediatrics

article

Danilo Buonsenso¹  Daniel Munblit⁴  Ekaterina Pazukhina⁶  Antonia Ricchiuto¹  Dario Sinatti¹  Margherita Zona¹  Alessia De Matteis¹  Federico D’Ilario¹  Carolina Gentili¹  Roberta Lanni⁸  Teresa Rongai⁸  Patrizia del Balzo⁸  Maria Teresa Fonte⁸  Michele Valente⁸  Giuseppe Zampino¹  Cristina De Rose¹  Louise Sigfrid⁹  Piero Valentini¹ 

[1] Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS;Global Health Research Institute, Istituto di Igiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore;Sezione di Microbiologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore;Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Child’s Health, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Sechenov University;Inflammation, Repair and Development Section, Faculty of Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London;Laboratory of Health Economics, Institute of Applied Economic Studies, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration;Center for Advanced Financial Planning, Macroeconomic Analysis and Financial Statistics, Financial Research Institute, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation;Pediatra di Libera Scelta;International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium Global Support Centre, Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford

关键词: COVID-19;    long COVID;    post-COVID “long-haulers”;    children;    adults;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fped.2022.834875

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Background Emerging evidence shows that both adults and children may develop post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). The aim of this study is to characterise and compare long-term post-SARS-CoV-2 infection outcomes in adults and children in a defined region in Italy. Methods A prospective cohort study including children (≤18 years old) with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and their household members. Participants were assessed via telephone and face-to-face visits up to 12 months post-SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis of household index case, using the ISARIC COVID-19 follow-up survey. Results Of 507 participants from 201 households, 56.4% (286/507) were children, 43.6% (221/507) adults. SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 87% (249/286) in children, and 78% (172/221) in adults. The mean age of PCR positive children was 10.4 (SD = 4.5) and of PCR positive adults was 44.5 years (SD = 9.5), similar to the PCR negative control groups [children 10.5 years (SD = 3.24), adults 42.3 years (SD = 9.06)]. Median follow-up post-SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was 77 days (IQR 47–169). A significantly higher proportion of adults compared to children reported at least one persistent symptom (67%, 68/101 vs. 32%, 57/179, p < 0.001) at the first follow up. Adults had more frequently coexistence of several symptom categories at both follow-up time-points. Female gender was identified as a risk factor for PASC in adults ( p 0.02 at 1–3 months and p 0.01 at 6–9 months follow up), but not in children. We found no significant correlation between adults and children symptoms. In the paediatric group, there was a significant difference in persisting symptoms between those with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to controls at 1–3 months follow up, but not at 6–9 months. Conversely, positive adults had a higher frequency of persisting symptoms at both follow-up assessments. Conclusion Our data highlights that children can experience persistent multisystemic symptoms months after diagnosis of mild acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, although less frequently and less severely than co-habitant adults. There was no correlation between symptoms experienced by adults and children living in the same household. Our data highlights an urgent need for studies to characterise PASC in whole populations and the wider impact on families.

【 授权许可】

CC BY