Functional outcomes of children after SARS-CoV-2 infection: An EHR-based cohort study, 2026, Case et al.

[Chandelier]

Functional outcomes of children after SARS-CoV-2 infection: An EHR-based cohort study

Spoiler: Authors

Case, Abigail; Botdorf, Morgan; Marchesani, Nicole; Leikauf, John E; Letts, Rebecca; Maughan, Christine; Fitzgerald, Megan L; Higginbotham, Miranda; Swaminathan, Aparna C; Liebovitz, David; Thacker, Deepika; Dandachi, Dima; Muszynski, Jennifer A; Wellnitz, Kari; Pajor, Nathan M; Jhaveri, Ravi; Gonzalez, Sandy L; Rao, Suchitra

Abstract​

Background​

Clinical manifestations of the post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, or long COVID, have been well-described.
However, few pediatric studies explore the impact on everyday function.
The objective was to describe functional outcomes for children and youth with long COVID.

Methods​

A retrospective cohort study of individuals < 21 years of age with COVID-19 infection seeking care at 21 children's hospitals across the United States was conducted.
Using a systematic chart review, children with confirmed long COVID were identified by clinician adjudication between March 2020 and December 2022.
Outcomes were compared to children with COVID-19 infection without confirmed long COVID. Functional impairments included difficulty participating in school and extracurricular activities, new referrals to rehabilitative therapies, newly modified education plans, and new or worsening mental health symptoms.
Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to evaluate these outcomes among children with and without long COVID.

Results​

Among 686 children with completed chart review, 651 (95%) had a COVID-19 diagnosis. Functional impairment was documented in 139 (21%) children, of which 59 had clinician-adjudicated long COVID.
Compared to infected children without long COVID, children with long COVID had higher odds of school decline (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.6–7.9, p = 0.002), school support (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2–5.0, p = 0.014), and new or worsening behavioral or mental health symptoms (OR 4.6, 95% CI 2.1–9.2, p < 0.001).

Conclusions​

Significant functional impairments exist among children and youth following SARS-CoV-2 infection and serve as a reminder to clinicians evaluating children with long COVID to explore everyday function.
Future prospective studies with longer follow-up are underway.

Web | DOI | PDF | Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine | Open Access

 

[Arnie Pye]

It seems to me that the authors of this are using the word function and/or functional to mean several different things.

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Quote : However, few pediatric studies explore the impact on everyday function.

I could use the above meaning of "function" in the sentence "I have a fridge that functions" i.e. I have a fridge that works or is functional.

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Quote : The objective was to describe functional outcomes for children and youth with long COVID.

"Functional outcomes" in this context is used by doctors to mean "These patients have health problems as a result of Covid 19 but we can't find a physical cause (or haven't looked for one very thoroughly) for the symptoms so we have decided that they are attention-seeking or mentally ill or trying to dodge school and are making things up.

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If authors are going to use "function" or "functional" they should use the word throughout their writing with only one of its possible meanings so that normal human beings who use the dictionary definition of functional don't get confused when reading.