Long-Term Health Symptoms and Sequelae Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection: An Evidence Map

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Post-COVID-19 conditions (Long-COVID) present a complex, prolonged illness after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• A uniform case definition for Long-COVID is lacking.
• Evidence on persistent symptoms and sequelae in diverse populations remains incomplete.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically map the existing evidence on persistent symptoms and sequelae following SARS-CoV-2 infection in both children and adults.
• To identify gaps in the current research landscape concerning Long-COVID.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted on November 5, 2021, utilizing the Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register and the WHO COVID-19 Global literature database.
• Included studies were longitudinal and cross-sectional, focusing on the extraction of study characteristics and core outcomes for post-COVID-19 conditions.
• A total of 565 studies (657 records) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The majority of included studies were uncontrolled cohort studies with a median follow-up of 13 weeks.
• Research predominantly focused on high-income countries (72%), unvaccinated adults (93%), and common symptoms like respiratory issues (71%), neurological symptoms (57%), and fatigue (54%).
• Limited research addressed children (10%), particularly those under five, and outcomes such as overall recovery (24%), quality of life (16%), and rehabilitation needs (18%).

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for more controlled cohort studies with extended follow-up periods to understand Long-COVID.
• Future research should prioritize assessing overall recovery, health-related quality of life, and daily functioning.
• Studies must expand to include later pandemic phases, diverse global regions, and underrepresented populations, including children.