296 - Physical and Mental Health Scores in a Sample of Youth with Chronic Conditions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Rates of mental health disorders among youth have risen dramatically over the last few years in association with the COVID-19 pandemic.  It is not known what effect the current national mental health crisis has had on the physical and mental health of adolescents and young adults (AYA) with childhood onset chronic conditions (COCC), a vulnerable population.

Objective:

To characterize baseline demographic characteristics and physical and mental health scores of AYA with COCC participating in a randomized clinical trial conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic to evaluate a peer health coaching intervention effects on health outcomes.   

Design/Methods:

This cross-sectional, descriptive analysis included AYA with COCC ages 16-22 years enrolled in the Peer i-Coaching for Activation Self-Management Optimization (PiCASO) trial.  Baseline sample characteristics were examined including physical and mental health-related quality of life (QOL) scores using the SF-12.  

Results:

Participants were 186 AYA (60% female, 52% white). Mean age was 18.5 (SD=1.9) years. 80% were attending high school (grades 9-12), 30% had conditions requiring frequent hospitalization (sickle cell disease, chronic kidney disease, lupus), 38% had conditions with high daily management (T1 diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis), and 32% were survivors of life-threatening conditions with ongoing management demands (stem cell transplant, organ transplant, and cancer).  Mean SF-12 T-scores for the physical and mental health component was 48.9 (SD=9.4) and 45.6 (SD=11.5), respectively.  The average US population T-score is 50 (SD=10), with lower scores indicating poorer functioning. 

Conclusion(s):

Consistent with other studies of AYA with COCC, mental health QOL was somewhat lower than norms, however, physical QOL was similar to the general population. Higher physical health QOL than would be expected may be related to less functional impairment due to accommodations such as zoom-based education or others made during the pandemic. Despite the social isolation and stressors of the COVID19 pandemic that might exacerbate difficulties for AYA with COCC, this population did not differ much from pre-pandemic norms on mental health quality of life. This may reflect habituation to isolation among AYA with COCC and even consequent buffering against further isolation such as with COVID.  Further study is needed regarding the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of AYA with COCC.