The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection among Canadian children and parents in the CHILD cohort, identify predictors of infection susceptibility and severity, and understand the health and psychosocial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on CHILD families.
Study will leverage the existing CHILD Cohort Study. All household members from each family will be incited to participate. To accommodate institutional physical distancing policies, the study is designed to minimize participant contact and the need for research staff onsite. Weekly symptom check (by text message): Brief survey will capture COVID-19 signs and symptoms, testing and results, and healthcare utilization. Questions will be aligned with the Government of Canada self-assessment tool and harmonized with international partners. Quarterly CoRonavIruS Health Impact Survey (CRISIS) (7) and body weight: 10-minute CRISIS survey captures COVID-19 exposure, life changes due to the COVID-19 crisis, daily behaviours, emotions and worries, media use and substance use. Each household member will complete the survey; parents will complete on behalf of younger children. Body weight (measured at home) will also be reported. Repeated seroprevalence survey: Use of simple home sampling kit containing volumetric absorption micro-sampling devices (Mitra(R) cartridge device, Neoteryx LLC) to collect a fingerstick blood sample (10 ul; a few drops) for SARS-Cov2 IgG serology testing laboratory. Knowledge Users (Public Health authorities) and virology/serology experts will advise on the best available serology assay at the time of testing, and the investigators will consider testing in a public health lab if possible. Kits will be delivered and returned by mail, and an instructional video will be provided. Results will be returned to participants with appropriate explanation of their clinical relevance, and shared in real time with Knowledge Users to inform modeling efforts and pandemic management The timing and frequency of sero-surveys will be guided by our Knowledge Users depending on the progression of the pandemic. Analysis of recently-collected pre-pandemic bio-samples: To determine the pre-pandemic immune profile of CHILD index children, the investigators will analyze a subset including all cases (asymptomatic and symptomatic) detected by serology and symptom surveys, plus a random subset of uninfected controls (estimated: 400 children in total). The investigators will assess: 1. a panel of innate and adaptive cytokines and chemokines using a commercial multiplex assay, 2. immune cell phenotypes using high dimensional flow cytometry 3. viral antibodies to establish prior/recent infections and cross-reactivity using targeted ELISA assays developed for antibodies to other human beta-coronaviruses
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
5,385
A simple home sampling kit containing volumetric absorption microsampling devices (Mitra(R) cartidge device, Neoteryx LLC) will be used by the participants to collect a finger stick blood sample (10 ul; a few drops). Kits will be delivered to participants' homes and returned by mail. An instructional video will be provided.
Stool samples collected for genetic, microbial and viral analysis.
SickKids - The Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Real-Time data on SARS-CoV-2 infection, severity, transmission and immune response
Weekly Symptom check (by text message) Brief survey will capture COVID-19 signs and symptoms, testing and results, and healthcare utilization. Questions will be aligned with the Government of Canada self-assessment tool and harmonized with international partners
Time frame: Biweekly, up to 70 weeks from Dec 2020 through Mar 2022
Identify biological and sociodemographic predictors of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Quarterly CoRonavIruS Health Impact Survey (CRISIS) (7) and body weight: The 10-minute CRISIS survey captures COVID-19 exposure, life changes due to the COVID-19 crisis, daily behaviours, emotions and worries, media use and substance use. Each household member will complete the survey; parents will complete on behalf of younger children. Body weight (measured at home) will also be reported.
Time frame: Quarterly (once every 3 months - total duration 12 months), from Dec 2020 through Mar 2022. Baseline survey (Dec - May 2021); Follow-up 1 Survey (July - Aug 2021); Follow-up 2 Survey (Oct - Dec 2021); Follow-up 3 (Jan - Mar 2022)
Understand the psychosocial, health and equity impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its management on CHILD families, and identify equity impacts
Quarterly CoRonavIruS Health Impact Survey (CRISIS) (7) and body weight: The 10-minute CRISIS survey captures COVID-19 exposure, life changes due to the COVID-19 crisis, daily behaviours, emotions and worries, media use and substance use. Each household member will complete the survey; parents will complete on behalf of younger children. Body weight (measured at home) will also be reported.
Time frame: Quarterly (once every 3 months - total duration 12 months), from Dec 2020 through Mar 2022. Baseline survey (Dec - May 2021); Follow-up 1 Survey (July - Aug 2021); Follow-up 2 Survey (Oct - Dec 2021); Follow-up 3 (Jan - Mar 2022)
Determine pre-pandemic immune profile of CHILD index children
Analysis of recently-collected pre-pandemic bio-samples: To determine the pre-pandemic immune profile of CHILD index children, we will analyze a subset including all cases (asymptomatic and symptomatic) detected by serology and symptom surveys, plus a random subset of uninfected controls (estimated: 400 children in total). The investigators will assess: a) a panel of innate and adaptive cytokines and chemokines using a commercial multiplex assay, b) immune cell phenotypes using high dimensional flow cytometry and c) viral antibodies to establish prior/recent infections and cross-reactivity using targeted ELISA assays developed for antibodies to other human beta-coronaviruses
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: 12 months
SARS-CoV-2 infection, severity, transmission and immunity. Prevalence and severity of infection
Prevalence and severity of infection will be estimated in real-time from weekly reports, and confirmed from serology testing. Severity will be classified as asymptomatic, mild or severe using WHO criteria. Transmission will be assessed using a multilevel modeling approach by province, house, and individual. Persistence of potential immunity will be determined from longitudinal serology testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
Time frame: 12 months
Identify biological, health and sociodemographic predictors of SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptibility and severity
In addition to the new data generated by this grant, the investigators will access existing data from the CHILD database, which contains over 50 million data points including multi-omics measurements from biological samples; indoor exposures including tobacco smoke; longitudinal clinical data on cardiometabolic and respiratory health, anthropometrics and body composition; mental health and psychosocial data; health behaviour data including sleep, physical activity, screen time and diet; and socioeconomic data including ethnicity. CHILD data is also integrated with www.CANUE.ca environmental data including weather, air quality and population density data. The investigators will use two approaches to analyze these data: hypothesis-driven and unbiased machine learning.
Time frame: 12 months
Understand the psychosocial, health and equity impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
The investigators will identify individuals experiencing a decline in mental or physical health during the pandemic (not due to infection) and identify families and individuals experiencing food insecurity, financial difficulties, domestic violence and substance abuse. The investigators will report the prevalence of these outcomes to our knowledge users monthly. The investigators will use hypothesis-driven and unbiased approaches to identify factors that may predict risk for - or resilience against - these negative impacts of the pandemic. The investigators will also investigate socioeconomic inequities.
Time frame: 12 months
Sex-and-gender-based analysis
Sex differences in COVID-19 severity have been reported in adults (8) and gendered health behaviours are relevant to exposure and transmission. Mental health effects may also vary by sex and gender. It is not known if these differences exist in children, and how they might affect asymptomatic infection and transmission. The investigators will disaggregate all analyses by sex and/or gender in order to address these issues.
Time frame: 12 months