The study included a diverse sample set, comprising 66 healthy controls without COVID-19 antibodies, 55 children who tested positive for COVID-19, and 26 children diagnosed with MIS-C.

MIS-C, affecting multiple organ systems, can lead to serious cardiac damage, including changes to the myocardium and blood vessels, further emphasizing the need for awareness and research.

A recent study published in the Journal of Proteome Research on June 11, 2025, analyzed blood samples from 147 children, including those hospitalized with severe COVID-19 and those diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a serious complication that can arise after COVID-19.

The research revealed significant metabolic disruptions affecting fat processing, which are critical for heart health, indicating that severe COVID-19 infections in children may lead to lasting metabolic changes.

Lead researcher Professor Jeremy Nicholson emphasized that the findings challenge the common belief that children are largely unaffected by COVID-19, as some do experience severe forms like MIS-C that can result in long-term health issues.

While a minority of children develop MIS-C, this condition is linked to long-term gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems, highlighting the need for further research into the long-term effects of COVID-19 on children.

In the MIS-C group, 50% of the patients required intensive care, with 24% needing vasopressors due to cardiovascular dysfunction, and 8% placed on ECMO, underscoring the severity of this condition.

Among the 55 children with COVID-19, 58% were hospitalized, and 25% experienced severe symptoms that necessitated supplemental oxygen.

The study identified similarities in molecular signatures between MIS-C and COVID-19 in children, with MIS-C patients experiencing more severe effects.

Despite presenting milder respiratory symptoms compared to adults, children exhibited metabolic disturbances similar to those seen in severe adult COVID-19 cases, suggesting a shared inflammatory response.

Moreover, while severe COVID-19 in children resulted in less lung damage than in adults, similar cardiac and metabolic issues were observed, hinting at potential long-term consequences such as long COVID.

Using advanced analytical techniques, the research measured 1,101 metabolites related to health outcomes, providing a comprehensive view of the metabolic changes occurring in these children.