SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in children and adolescents with COVID-19: a systematic review

Abstract

Objectives: Infections by SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) might affect children and adolescents differently than earlier viral lineages. We aimed to address five questions about SARS-CoV-2 VOC infections in children and adolescents: (1) symptoms and severity, (2) risk factors for severe disease, (3) the risk of infection, (4) the risk of transmission and (5) long-term consequences following a VOC infection.

Design: Systematic review.

Data sources: The COVID-19 Open Access Project database was searched up to 1 March 2022 and PubMed was searched up to 9 May 2022.

Eligibility criteria: We included observational studies about Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron VOCs among ≤18-year-olds. We included studies in English, German, French, Greek, Italian, Spanish and Turkish.

Data extraction and synthesis: Two reviewers extracted and verified the data and assessed the risk of bias. We descriptively synthesised the data and assessed the risks of bias at the outcome level.

Results: We included 53 articles. Most children with any VOC infection presented with mild disease, with more severe disease being described with the Delta or the Gamma VOC. Diabetes and obesity were reported as risk factors for severe disease during the whole pandemic period. The risk of becoming infected with a SARS-CoV-2 VOC seemed to increase with age, while in daycare settings the risk of onward transmission of VOCs was higher for younger than older children or partially vaccinated adults. Long-term symptoms following an infection with a VOC were described in <5% of children and adolescents.

Conclusion: Overall patterns of SARS-CoV-2 VOC infections in children and adolescents are similar to those of earlier lineages. Comparisons between different pandemic periods, countries and age groups should be improved with complete reporting of relevant contextual factors, including VOCs, vaccination status of study participants and the risk of exposure of the population to SARS-CoV-2.

Prospero registration number: CRD42022295207.

Keywords: COVID-19; public health; systematic review.

Figure 1

Flow chart. Of the 2407 studies found via database searches 53 were found to be eligible for this systematic review (including one study recommended to us by experts). From Page et al. COAP, COVID-19 Open Access Project; VOC, variants of concern.

Figure 2

Map of the number of studies conducted in each country. Most studies came from high-income countries (n=47, 89%). Six studies (11%) were from upper middle-income countries.