The Evaluation of Health Care Services for Children and Adolescents With Post–COVID-19 Condition: Protocol for a Prospective Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Background Some children and adolescents suffer from late effects of a SARS-CoV-2 infection despite a frequently mild course of the disease. Nevertheless, extensive care for post–COVID-19 condition, also known as post–COVID-19 syndrome, in children and young people is not yet available. A comprehensive care network, Post-COVID Kids Bavaria (PoCo), for children and adolescents with post–COVID-19 condition has been set up as a model project in Bavaria, Germany. Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the health care services provided within this network structure of care for children and adolescents with post–COVID-19 condition in a pre-post study design. Methods We have already recruited 117 children and adolescents aged up to 17 years with post–COVID-19 condition who were diagnosed and treated in 16 participating outpatient clinics. Health care use, treatment satisfaction, patient-reported outcomes related to health-related quality of life (the primary endpoint), fatigue, postexertional malaise, and mental health are being assessed at different time points (at baseline and after 4 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months) using routine data, interviews, and self-report questionnaires. Results The study recruitment process ran from April 2022 until December 2022. Interim analyses will be carried out. A full analysis of the data will be conducted after follow-up assessment is completed, and the results will be published. Conclusions The results will contribute to the evaluation of therapeutic services provided for post–COVID-19 condition in children and adolescents, and avenues for optimizing care may be identified. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/41010