Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41125258›Full record

ArticleBMJ paediatrics open2025

Children and young people with persistent post-COVID-19 condition over 24 months: a mixed-methods study.

Esther Ortega-Martin, Alvin Richards-Belle, Fiona Newlands, Roz Shafran, Terence Stephenson, Natalia Rojas, Neha Batura, Marta Buszewicz, Emma Dalrymple, Isobel Heyman and 2 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ paediatrics open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Esther Ortega-MartinDepartment of General Economy (Health Sociology area), University of Cadiz, Cádiz, Spain.
Alvin Richards-BelleDivision of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
Fiona NewlandsUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
Roz ShafranUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2729-4961
Terence StephensonUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
Natalia RojasDivision of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London, UK.
Neha BaturaInstitute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
Marta BuszewiczUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
Emma DalrympleUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
Isobel HeymanUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
CLoCk Consortium
Snehal M Pinto PereiraDivision of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London, UK snehal.pereira@ucl.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0876-8757

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeWhile most children and young people (CYP) recover from COVID-19, some develop 'post-COVID-19 condition' (PCC), affecting their health and well-being. We explored (1) whether distinct persistent PCC symptom subgroups exist in CYP and whether these subgroups remain stable up to 24 months postinfection; (2) whether impairments differ across subgroups and (3) how CYP with persistent PCC describe the evolving impact of the pandemic/lockdowns on their health and experiences up to 24 months postinfection.

methodsA cohort of CYP across England was recruited in 2020-2021 (the children and young people with Long COVID study). A subsample of 68 CYP meeting the PCC Delphi research definition at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months post-PCR-confirmed infection was analysed. Latent class analysis identified symptom subgroups (objective 1); associations with impairments (measured via EuroQol Five Dimensions Youth) were examined (objective 2). Free-text responses from six CYP at all four follow-up points (n=24) were thematically analysed to capture evolving experiences (objective 3).

resultsIncluded CYP were older (72.1% were 15-17 years), female (82.4%) and white (80.9%). Two symptom groups emerged: a frequent symptom subgroup (median: 6.5-9 symptoms over time, mainly shortness of breath and tiredness); and a less frequent symptom subgroup (median: 4-5 symptoms, mostly tiredness). Generally, no association was found between symptom subgroups and impairments. Qualitative analysis indicated feelings of anxiety, respiratory problems and concerns around relaxation of lockdown restrictions persisted over follow-up. School-related worries were transient. DISCUSSION: Even CYP with persistent PCC characterised by fewer symptoms experience long-term anxiety and impact, emphasising even few symptoms can be debilitating and underscoring the need for personalised PCC management for CYP.

Indexed as

COVID-19AdolescentChildEnglandFemaleHumansMaleQuality of LifeSARS-CoV-2Adolescent HealthChild HealthCOVID-19Health services researchQualitative research

Identifiers

PMID41125258
PMCPMC12551525

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.