Incidence and risk factors for long COVID in children with COVID-19 pneumonia
Issued Date
2024-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
87556863
eISSN
10990496
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85185486471
Journal Title
Pediatric Pulmonology
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Pediatric Pulmonology (2024)
Suggested Citation
Wongwathanavikrom N.b., Tovichien P., Udomittipong K., Palamit A., Tiamduangtawan P., Mahoran K., Charoensittisup P. Incidence and risk factors for long COVID in children with COVID-19 pneumonia. Pediatric Pulmonology (2024). doi:10.1002/ppul.26910 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/97402
Title
Incidence and risk factors for long COVID in children with COVID-19 pneumonia
Author's Affiliation
Corresponding Author(s)
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Abstract
Background and Objective: There are only a few reports of long COVID including pulmonary function in children after COVID-19 pneumonia. We determined the incidence of long COVID and abnormal pulmonary function in those children and identify risk factors. Methods: This cohort study enrolled children admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia during 2021–2022. We gathered clinical characteristics during admission and at follow-up 3 months after. Results: We determined the incidence of long COVID at 39.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.7%–49.1%). All severe pneumonia cases consistently reported persistent symptoms. Exercise intolerance, cough, and fatigue were the three most common persistent symptoms in 26 (22.4%), 21 (18.1%), and 18 (15.5%) of the patients, respectively. At the follow-up, 21 cases (18.1%) demonstrated persistent abnormal chest radiographs. Three cases (6.9%) demonstrated restrictive ventilatory defects. Among those, one case (2.3%) demonstrated concomitant diffusion defect. Three cases (6.0%) demonstrated exercise-induced hypoxemia after the 6-minute walk test. Comparing spirometry variables between children with long COVID and without revealed significant difference of FEF25-75 (z score) between two groups. Age [adjusted OR (95% CI): 1.13 (1.05–1.22), p value 0.002], allergic diseases [adjusted OR (95% CI): 4.05 (1.36–12.06), p value 0.012], and living in polluted areas [adjusted OR (95% CI): 2.73 (1.18–6.33), p value 0.019] were significantly associated with long COVID. Conclusion: A significant percentage of children developed long COVID after COVID-19 pneumonia. We should give additional attention to those who have exercise intolerance, chronic cough, or fatigue, especially older children, severe cases, children with allergic diseases, and those living in polluted areas.