It was only possible to perform meta-analyses of O.R.s comparing cases and controls for 13 symptoms (mood, fatigue, headache, dyspnea, concentration problems, anosmia/ageusia, loss of appetite, rhinitis, myalgia/arthralgia, cough, fever, sore throat, and nausea/vomiting) (Fig. 4). When compared to controls, children with long-COVID had a higher risk of persistent dyspnea (OR 2.69; 95% CI 2.30–3.14, I2 0%), anosmia/ageusia (OR 10.68; 95% CI 2.48, 46.03, I2 0%), and/or fever (OR 2.23; 95% CI 1.2–4.07, I2 12%). There was significant heterogeneity for 4 out of the 13 meta-analyses (Fig. 4). The controls were chosen in a very different way among studies, which might have introduced significant heterogeneity. The following were the different definitions of controls, children and adolescents with: (1) other infections (e.g., common cold, pharyngotonsillitis, gastrointestinal, urinary tract infections, pneumonia of bacteria or unknown origin)17; (2) no antibodies testing24 mixed with other infections17; (3) a negative antibody test29, (4) a negative rtPCR test among symptomatic children35; and (5) children who did not have a positive test recorded in the database15 (Supplementary Fig. 2). The adjustments among studies also varied. Several studies adjusted their OR by age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and comorbidities35. However, age and sex15 only adjusted for sex, only for age17, did not adjust, or by OR without adjusting previous conditions
Quality of incoming data is okay, but obviously mushed on a few areas (in my non-expert opinion). I'll ask Doc and see what he thinks.