Prevalence of symptoms associated with Long COVID among adolescents in the United States, Summer 2022

Abstract

Purpose Limited information is known about Long COVID among adolescents. This study will compare the risks associated with symptoms among adolescents who tested positive, were tested but never tested positive, and who were never tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods Porter Novelli survey data were collected from adolescents (12-17 years) from May 31 – July 6, 2022. Respondents self-reported their SARS-CoV-2 test results and were classified accordingly by test status. Wald’s chi-squared tests were used to determine whether demographic factors and characteristics related to symptoms differed by test status. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of reporting (1) symptoms lasting four weeks or longer and (2) symptoms lasting three or more months by test status and SARS-CoV-2 variant period. Results Data were collected from 784 respondents: 264 (34%) tested positive, 291 (37%) never tested positive, and 229 (29%) were never tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection. At least one symptom lasting four weeks or longer were reported by 41% of the positive respondents, compared to 12% of negative respondents and 11% of never tested respondents (p<0.05). The odds of reporting at least one symptom lasting four or more weeks did not vary by SARS-CoV-2 variant period. Adolescents who tested positive had increased odds of any neurological symptom lasting three or more months compared to negative adolescents. Discussion Our results demonstrate adolescents who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were more likely to report at least one symptom lasting for at least four weeks. However, most of these symptoms appeared to have resolved within three months.