Background/Purpose: Little is known about parental awareness of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a rare but severe sequela of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We sought to describe parental knowledge of and attitudes toward MIS-C, identify demographic variables associated with knowledge of MIS-C, and assess associations with parents perceived COVID-19 disease severity and susceptibility in children.

Methods: Via a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey of U.S. parents conducted via Ipsos KnowledgePanel® from October-November 2021, we used bivariate and multivariable analyses to identify correlates of MIS-C awareness and examine associations with perceived COVID-19 severity and susceptibility.

Results: Survey response rate was 64.2% (3,230/5,034). Thirty-two percent of respondents had heard of MIS-C. After adjustment, higher educational level (compared to high school degree, “some college” Odds Ratio [OR]=2.00 [95% confidence interval 1.44,2.77]; “bachelor’s degree or higher” OR=3.14 [2.26,4.35]), being a healthcare worker (OR=1.82 [1.37,2.42]), having a child with a chronic medical condition (OR=1.62 [1.22,2.14]), and experience with more severe COVID-19 (OR=1.46 [1.14,1.86]) were associated with MIS-C awareness. Respondents with a child aged 12-17 years were less likely to be aware of MIS-C compared to those without (OR=0.78 [0.63,0.96]), as were male respondents (OR=0.56 [0.46,0.69],) and respondents aged 18-34 years (OR=0.72 [0.54,0.94]) compared to 35-44. Awareness of MIS-C was associated with higher perceived COVID-19 severity and susceptibility (regression coefficients 0.18 [0.10,0.25], p< 0.001 and 0.19 [0.11,0.28], p< 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: This survey highlights the need to increase parental awareness of MIS-C. Future studies should explore how education regarding MIS-C as a complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection could improve understanding of pediatric disease severity and susceptibility.

Table 1: Bivariate Analysis of Characteristics Associated with Awareness of MIS-C Among All Respondents

Table 2: Unadjusted Effect of Awareness of MIS-C on Perceived COVID_19 Susceptibility and Severity Among All Respondents and By Age Group of Children

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/awareness-of-multisystem-inflammatory-syndrome-in-children-among-u-s-parents-a-cross-sectional-survey/