Six-Month Outcomes in the Long-Term Outcomes after the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Study

Authors

Dongngan T. Truong, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Felicia L. Trachtenberg, Carelon Research, Newton, MA
Chenwei Hu, Carelon Research, Newton, MA
Gail D. Pearson, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Kevin Friedman, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Arash A. Sabati, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ
Audrey Dionne, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Matthew E. Oster, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Brett R. Anderson, Columbia University, NY
Joseph Block, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Tamara T. Bradford, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
M Jay Campbell, Duke University, Durham, NC
Laura D'Addese, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, Hollywood, FL
Kirsten B. Dummer, University of California-San Diego, CA
Matthew D. Elias, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Daniel Forsha, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City
Olukayode D. Garuba, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Keren Hasbani, University of Texas-Austin, TX
Kerri Hayes, Carelon Research, Newton, MA
Camden Hebson, University of Alabama, Birmingham
Pei-Ni Jone, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Anita Krishnan, George Washington University, Washington, DC
Sean Lang, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, OH
Brian W. McCrindle, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Kimberly E. McHugh, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
Elizabeth C. Mitchell, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, NY
Tonia Morrison, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Juan Carlos Muniz, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, FL
R Mark Payne, Indiana University, Indianapolis
et al

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-13-2025

Publication Title

JAMA Pediatrics

Abstract

Importance: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a life-threatening complication of COVID-19 infection. Data on midterm outcomes are limited. Objective: To characterize the frequency and time course of cardiac dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] < 55%), coronary artery aneurysms (z score 2.5), and noncardiac involvement through 6 months after MIS-C. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study enrolled participants between March 2020 and January 2022 with a follow-up period of 2 years. Participants were recruited from 32 North American pediatric hospitals, and all participants met the 2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition of MIS-C. Exposure: MIS-C after COVID-19 infection. Main Outcomes and Measures: Outcomes included echocardiography core laboratory (ECL) assessments of LVEF and maximum coronary artery z scores (zMax); data collection on cardiac and noncardiac sequelae during hospitalization and at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 6 months after discharge; and age-appropriate Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) Global Health Instruments at follow-up. Descriptive statistics, linear regression models, and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used. Results: Of 1204 participants (median [IQR] age, 9.1 [5.6-12.7] years; 724 male [60.1%]), 325 self-identified with non-Hispanic Black race (27.0%) and 324 with Hispanic ethnicity (26.9%). A total of 548 of 1195 participants (45.9%) required vasoactive support, 17 of 1195 (1.4%) required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and 3 (0.3%) died during hospitalization. Of participants with echocardiograms reviewed by the ECL (n = 349 due to budget constraints), 131 of 322 (42.3%) had LVEF less than 55% during hospitalization; of those with follow-up, all but 1 normalized by 6 months. Black race (vs other/unknown race), higher C-reactive protein level, and abnormal troponin level were associated with lowest LVEF (estimate [SE], -3.09 [0.98]; R2 = 0.14; P =.002). Fifteen participants had coronary artery z scores of 2.5 or greater at any time point; 1 participant had a large/giant aneurysm. Of the 13 participants with z scores of 2.5 or greater during hospitalization, 12 (92.3%) had normalized by 6 months. Return to greater than 90% of pre-MIS-C health status (energy, sleep, appetite, cognition, and mood) was reported by 711 of 824 participants (86.3%) at 2 weeks, increasing to 548 of 576 (95.1%) at 6 months. Fatigue was the most common symptom reported at 2 weeks (141 of 889 [15.9%]), falling to 3.4% (22 of 638) by 6 months. PROMIS Global Health parent/guardian proxy median T scores for fatigue, global health, and pain interference improved significantly from 2 weeks to 6 months (fatigue, 56.1 vs 48.9; global health, 48.8 vs 51.3; pain interference, 53.0 vs 43.3; P < .001) and by the 6-week visit were at least equivalent to prepandemic population norms. Conclusions and Relevance: Results of this cohort study suggest that although children and young adults with MIS-C can have severe disease during the acute phase, most recovered quickly and had a reassuring midterm prognosis.

First Page

293

Last Page

301

PubMed ID

39804656

Volume

179

Issue

3

Comments

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