--- title: "SEROCoV-KIDS cohort: impact of COVID-19 on children and adolescents in Geneva, Switzerland" id: "bmj-open-21-cohort-profile-the-serocov-kids-population-based-cohort-study-and-biobank-on" canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/bmj-open-21-cohort-profile-the-serocov-kids-population-based-cohort-study-and-biobank-on" content_type: "clinical_feed_article" specialty: "Pediatrics" source_name: "BMJ Open" source_url: "http://bmjopen.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/16/9/e116875?rss=1" published_at: "2026-09-21T12:57:17.000Z" evidence_level: "Journal Feed" license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use" --- # SEROCoV-KIDS cohort: impact of COVID-19 on children and adolescents in Geneva, Switzerland ## Provenance & Clinical Metadata - **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/bmj-open-21-cohort-profile-the-serocov-kids-population-based-cohort-study-and-biobank-on - **Specialty:** [Pediatrics](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/pediatrics.md) - **Primary Source:** BMJ Open - **Source URL:** [Original Journal Publication](http://bmjopen.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/16/9/e116875?rss=1) - **Published At:** 2026-09-21T12:57:17.000Z - **Evidence Rating:** Journal Feed ## Executive GIST (TL;DR) - The SEROCoV-KIDS study is a prospective population-based cohort and biobank launched in 2021 to evaluate the **impact of the COVID-19 pandemic** on children and adolescents in Geneva, Switzerland, including vulnerable subgroups. - The cohort enrolled 2,199 participants aged 6 months to 17 years from 1,340 households: 2,048 from the general population and 151 recruited via clinics (children with **chronic health conditions**). - Baseline data collection occurred between December 2021 and June 2022 and included blood samples for serology and biobanking, plus comprehensive questionnaires completed by a referent adult and adolescents aged 14+. - Five online follow-up assessments were conducted through October 2026, capturing physical and mental health, development, quality of life, health behaviours, family dynamics and education-related topics. - A cross-sectional qualitative study (October 2023–March 2024) specifically addressed experiences of socioeconomically disadvantaged families to complement quantitative data. - At baseline, 66.3% of the population-based sample tested **seropositive** for **anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies**; 4.1% reported symptoms consistent with **post-COVID-19 condition**. - Overall, most children were minimally or not affected by the pandemic and exhibited stable good mental health over time, but 8% reported positive pandemic impact and 8–13% reported negative impacts, mainly from disrupted routines and reduced social support. - Health behaviours such as physical activity and sleep remained largely stable during follow-up; higher baseline screen time correlated with poorer well-being. - Subgroups with **chronic health conditions** or **socioeconomic and family disadvantage** experienced disproportionate health and psychosocial consequences. - The investigators plan to seek funding to extend follow-up and maintain systematic surveillance to inform public health and education policy; details of funding efforts were not reported in the source. ## Clinical Analysis & Structured Key Points Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic raised major concerns about its potential effects on children and adolescents, particularly through disruptions to their health, social and educational environments and the exacerbation of existing inequalities. In response to the limited evidence-based knowledge available at the time, the SEROCoV-KIDS study was launched in 2021 as a prospective cohort and biobank to assess the pandemic's effects on youth health and well-being. It focuses on the general population of Geneva, Switzerland, as well as subgroups with vulnerabilities, including prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, chronic health conditions and socioeconomic disadvantage. Participants A total of 2199 children and adolescents, aged 6 months to 17 years, from 1340 households were enrolled in the SEROCoV-KIDS cohort, 2048 from the general population and 151 from clinics (ie, children with chronic health conditions). At baseline, between December 2021 and June 2022, participants provided blood samples for serological testing and for long-term storage in the biobank, while comprehensive questionnaires were completed by a referent adult and adolescents aged 14 and older. Five follow-up online assessments were conducted until October 2026, addressing physical and mental health, development, quality of life, health behaviours, family dynamics and education-related topics. The quantitative findings of the cohort study were enriched by a cross-sectional qualitative study conducted between October 2023 and March 2024, focusing specifically on socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Findings to date In the population-based sample, 66.3% of participants tested seropositive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies at baseline, and 4.1% reported symptoms consistent with post-COVID-19 condition. Most children were minimally or not at all affected by the pandemic, showing good mental health over time. However, 8% of participants reported a positive pandemic impact, whereas 8% - 13% experienced negative impacts, mainly due to disrupted routines and reduced social support. Health behaviours like physical activity and sleep remained largely stable over the study period. Higher screen time at baseline was associated with poorer well-being. Children with chronic health conditions or experiencing socioeconomic and family disadvantage were disproportionately affected in terms of the health and psychosocial consequences of the pandemic. Future plans SEROCoV-KIDS demonstrates the value of child-focused cohorts for understanding the consequences of major societal events and for guiding evidence-based policy. Our next priority is to secure funding to prolong follow-up of this cohort and to maintain systematic surveillance of children and adolescents, so that emerging findings can directly inform public health and education policy over the coming years. ## Related Clinical Research - [WHO announces strategy to improve the market for childhood cancer medicines](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/who-0-0-new-strategy-to-build-a-healthier-market-for-childhood-cancer-medicines.md) - [FDA approves Fayuvi gene therapy for Sanfilippo syndrome type A — first approved treatment](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/stat-news-2-stat-fda-approves-a-new-gene-therapy-for-sanfilippo-syndrome-an-ultra-rare.md) - [Updated Guidelines for Flu, COVID-19, and RSV Vaccines: Essential Insights](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/medical-news-today-1-experts-clarify-flu-covid-rsv-vaccine-guidance-what-to-know.md) - [Obesity drugmakers are beginning pediatric trials in children as young as 6](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/stat-news-1-stat-obesity-drugmakers-are-testing-in-kids-as-young-as-6.md) - [Preadmission factors linked to acute complications, survival and long-term recovery after COVID-19](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/bmj-open-13-defining-the-preadmission-factors-that-modify-risk-of-acute-complications.md) ## Navigation - [← Back to Pediatrics Feed](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/pediatrics.md) - [← All Clinical Specialties](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed.md) ## Medical & Regulatory Disclaimer > [!CAUTION] > MedicHelpline content is structured for research, educational, and professional discovery purposes. 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