Persistent symptoms and decreased health-related quality of life after symptomatic pediatric COVID-19: A prospective study in a Latin American tertiary hospital

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively evaluate demographic, anthropometric and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pediatric patients with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) METHODS: This was a longitudinal observational study of surviving pediatric post-COVID-19 patients (n=53) and pediatric subjects without laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 included as controls (n=52) was performed. RESULTS: The median duration between COVID-19 diagnosis (n=53) and follow-up was 4.4 months (0.8-10.7). Twenty-three of 53 (43%) patients reported at least one persistent symptom at the longitudinal follow-up visit and 12/53 (23%) had long COVID-19, with at least one symptom lasting for >12 weeks. The most frequently reported symptoms at the longitudinal follow-up visit were headache (19%), severe recurrent headache (9%), tiredness (9%), dyspnea (8%), and concentration difficulty (4%). At the longitudinal follow-up visit, the frequencies of anemia (11% versus 0%, p=0.030), lymphopenia (42% versus 18%, p=0.020), C-reactive protein level of >30 mg/L (35% versus 0%, p=0.0001), and D-dimer level of >1000 ng/mL (43% versus 6%, p=0.0004) significantly reduced compared with baseline values. Chest X-ray abnormalities (11% versus 2%, p=0.178) and cardiac alterations on echocardiogram (33% versus 22%, p=0.462) were similar at both visits. Comparison of characteristic data between patients with COVID-19 at the longitudinal follow-up visit and controls showed similar age (p=0.962), proportion of male sex (p=0.907), ethnicity (p=0.566), family minimum monthly wage (p=0.664), body mass index (p=0.601), and pediatric pre-existing chronic conditions (p=1.000). The Pediatric Quality of Live Inventory 4.0 scores, median physical score (69 [0-100] versus 81 [34-100], p=0.012), and school score (60 [15-100] versus 70 [15-95], p=0.028) were significantly lower in pediatric patients with COVID-19 at the longitudinal follow-up visit than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients with COVID-19 showed a longitudinal impact on HRQoL parameters, particularly in physical/school domains, reinforcing the need for a prospective multidisciplinary approach for these patients. These data highlight the importance of closer monitoring of children and adolescents by the clinical team after COVID-19.

Composição de ácidos graxos do leite materno em mulheres residentes em área distante da costa litorânea brasileira / Breast milk fatty acid composition of women living far from the coastal area in Brazil

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a composição de ácidos graxos do leite humano maduro de mulheres residentes em área distante da costa litorânea brasileira. MÉTODOS: Amostras de leite materno maduro foram obtidas de 47 mulheres lactantes com idade entre 18 e 35 anos, que tiveram partos a termo e em aleitamento exclusivo ou predominante. A coleta de leite se deu a partir da 5ª semana pós-parto, por meio de ordenha manual. A composição de ácidos graxos do leite foi determinada por cromatografia gasosa. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se que a concentração de eicosapentaenoico (0,08%) foi superior ao observado em estudos brasileiros prévios. Entretanto, o teor de docosahexaenoico (0,09%) encontrado no leite humano foi um dos menores já verificados no mundo. O teor de ácidos graxos trans (2,05%) foi similar ao relatado em estudos nacionais prévios à obrigatoriedade de declaração do teor deste em rótulos de alimentos, sugerindo que esta medida não surtiu efeito na redução de seu teor na dieta habitual das mulheres. CONCLUSÕES: Baixo teor de docosahexaenoico e elevada concentração de ácidos graxos trans foram verificados no leite materno maduro de mulheres residentes em área distante da costa litorânea brasileira.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the fatty acid composition of mature human milk of women living far from the coastal area of Brazil. METHODS: Mature breast milk samples were obtained from 47 lactating women aged between 18 and 35 years, who delivered their babies at term and who exclusively or predominantly breastfed. Milk collection took place after the fifth week postpartum by hand expression. The fatty acid composition of the milk was determined by gas chromatography. RESULTS: It was observed that the concentration of eicosapentaenoic acid (0.08%) was higher than that observed in previous studies in Brazil. However, the content of docosahexaenoic acid (0.09%) found in human milk was one of the lowest verified in the world. The content of trans fatty acids (2.05%) was similar to that reported in national studies previous to the mandatory declaration of this fatty acid content in food labels, suggesting that this measure had no effect on reducing the content of this fatty acid in the usual diet of women. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of docosahexaenoic acid and high concentrations of trans fatty acids were observed in mature breast milk of women living far from the coastal area in Brazil.