COVID-19 Diagnosis, Severity, and Long COVID Among U.S. Adolescents, National Health Interview Survey, 2022

Authors

Kimberly H. Nguyen, Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Siyu Chen, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Yingjun Bao, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Yang Lu, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Robert A. Bednarczyk, Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Lavanya Vasudevan, Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

5-1-2024

Journal

American journal of health promotion : AJHP

Volume

38

Issue

4

DOI

10.1177/08901171241231642

Keywords

COVID-19; adolescents; disparities; long COVID; outcomes; severe COVID; vaccination; vaccine confidence; vaccine hesitancy

Abstract

PURPOSE: Understanding disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, overall and stratified by vaccination status, is important for developing targeted strategies to increase vaccination coverage and protect adolescents from COVID-19. DESIGN: The 2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is a cross-sectional nationally representative household survey of U.S. adults. SETTING: A probability sample of households in the U.S. SAMPLE: One child aged 12-17 years is randomly selected from each family in the household. A knowledgeable adult (eg, parent or guardian), responds on behalf of the child through an in-person interview (response rate = 49.9%). MEASURES: Input measures-sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19 vaccination status; output measures-ever had COVID-19, moderate/severe COVID-19, long COVID. ANALYSIS: Prevalence of COVID-19 outcomes was assessed for adolescents aged 12-17 years. Factors associated with each COVID-19 outcome were assessed with multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Among 2758 adolescents aged 12-17 years in 2022, 60.5% had received ≥1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 30.2% had ever been diagnosed by a doctor that they had COVID-19, 29.5% had moderate/severe COVID-19, and 6.2% had long COVID. Adolescents who were vaccinated with ≥1 dose were less likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 (aOR = .79) and less likely to have long COVID (aOR = .30). CONCLUSION: Targeted messaging to highlight the importance of early treatment, the harms of long COVID-19, and the benefits of vaccination in protecting against long-term effects may be necessary to ensure that all adolescents and their families are adequately protected.

APA Citation

Nguyen, Kimberly H.; Chen, Siyu; Bao, Yingjun; Lu, Yang; Bednarczyk, Robert A.; and Vasudevan, Lavanya, "COVID-19 Diagnosis, Severity, and Long COVID Among U.S. Adolescents, National Health Interview Survey, 2022" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 5018.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/5018

Department

Epidemiology