Physical and mental health complications post-COVID-19: Scoping review

Sanaz Shanbehzadeh1, Mahnaz Tavahomi2, Nasibeh Zanjari3

  • 1Rehabilitation Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Insights

Long COVID can cause lasting physical and mental health issues, including fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression, up to three months after infection. Comprehensive evaluation and rehabilitation are crucial for improving patients' quality of life.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Research
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Previous coronavirus infections have been linked to persistent health complications.
  • Understanding the long-term effects of COVID-19 is critical for patient care and public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a scoping review of studies evaluating physical and mental health problems experienced by individuals after COVID-19 infection.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases was performed for studies published between January 1 and November 7, 2020.
  • Included studies were observational and assessed physical health (e.g., musculoskeletal symptoms, functional status) or mental health status with a follow-up exceeding one month post-discharge or symptom onset.

Main Results:

  • The review included 34 studies, with follow-up periods up to three months post-COVID-19.
  • Common physical issues included fatigue (28-87%), pain (myalgia 4.5-36%, arthralgia 6-27%), and reduced physical capacity.
  • Prevalent mental health problems were anxiety (6.5-63%), depression (4-31%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (12.1-46.9%).
  • Female patients and those admitted to intensive care reported higher rates of fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression.
  • Overall quality of life was diminished up to three months post-COVID-19.

Conclusions:

  • Physical and mental health problems are common sequelae of COVID-19, persisting for up to three months.
  • The findings underscore the necessity for thorough post-COVID-19 assessments and targeted rehabilitation programs.
  • Interventions aimed at improving quality of life for individuals recovering from COVID-19 are essential.
Abstract

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