Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42157207›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2026

Exploring post-Covid-19 condition in children and young people 3.5 years after infection: a mixed-methods analysis from the CLoCk study.

Emma Dhir-Hewitt, Fiona Newlands, Roz Shafran, Terence Stephenson, Alvin Richards-Belle, Emma Dalrymple, Trudie Chalder, Tamsin Ford, Lana Fox-Smith, Isobel Heyman and 7 more

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

17 authors.

Emma Dhir-Hewitt *Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
Fiona Newlands *UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, LondonLondon, WC1N 1EH, UK. fiona.newlands.18@ucl.ac.uk.
Roz ShafranUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, LondonLondon, WC1N 1EH, UK.
Terence StephensonUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, LondonLondon, WC1N 1EH, UK.
Alvin Richards-BelleDivision of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
Emma DalrympleUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, LondonLondon, WC1N 1EH, UK.
Trudie ChalderDepartment of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De'Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
Tamsin FordDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Hershel Smith Building Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK.
Lana Fox-SmithUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, LondonLondon, WC1N 1EH, UK.
Isobel HeymanUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, LondonLondon, WC1N 1EH, UK.
Shamez N LadhaniImmunisations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases, UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ, UK.
Malcolm G SempleNIHR Health Protection Research Unit for Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Terry Y SegalDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescence, University College London Hospital, London, UK.
Olivia SwannCentre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TL, UK.
Elizabeth WhittakerDepartment of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, W2 1NY, UK.
CloCk Consortium
Snehal M Pinto PereiraDivision of Surgery & Interventional Science, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.

Funding

ESRC-BBSRC Soc-B Centre for Doctoral Training ES/T00200X/1UK Medical Research Council Senior Non-clinical fellowship MR/Y009398/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundComprehensive data on the persistence of Post-COVID-19 Condition (PCC; also known as Long COVID) and its impact on children and young people (CYP), incorporating their own perspective, is crucial to enhance our understanding of the condition, improve service provision and inform clinical management.

methodsWe examine long-term symptoms, health, and well-being among CYP persistently meeting PCC criteria up to 3.5-years after SARS-CoV-2 infection (when they were aged between 11-to-17-years), using a mixed-methods approach. 68 CYP from the CLoCk study who persistently met PCC criteria at 3- (April-June 2021), 6- (July-September 2021), 12- (January-March 2022), and 24-months (January-March 2023) post-infection were invited to complete an additional follow-up (October-November 2024). The survey assessed current symptoms and health status using validated measures, and symptom experiences through open-text responses. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively; qualitative data were analysed using thematic framework analysis. Findings were integrated using a convergent parallel design.

results50 CYP completed the survey; of these 42 (84%) responders continued to meet the PCC definition 3.5-years post-infection. All 42 (100%) reported tiredness and 34 (81%) reported 5 + symptoms 3.5-years post-infection. Qualitative analysis reinforced tiredness as a central symptom, alongside co-occurring symptoms that impact daily life. While quantitative and qualitative findings largely converged, context as to why CYP reported high levels of impact were only available from qualitative data.

conclusionsCYP with PCC persisting for 3.5-years post-infection experience multiple symptoms of wide-ranging severity and disruption to daily life, education and social participation.

Indexed as

COVID-19AdolescentChildFemaleHealth StatusHumansMalePost-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeChildren and young peopleLong COVIDMixed methodsPaediatricPost-COVID-19 ConditionPost-COVID servicesSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID42157207

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.