Prevalence of Long COVID in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-exposed groups

Long COVID (LC), i.e. the persistence of new or worsening symptoms for 3 months after Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome of Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, is an emerging global health burden. The prevalence of LC remains poorly characterized in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where other respiratory diseases, like tuberculosis (TB), are prevalent. We aimed to address this gap in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-exposed populations in Peru.

We recruited people with TB (n = 36) and their asymptomatic household contacts (n = 63) in Peru. We collected clinical data using a questionnaire adapted from a United States-based study of LC. Participants were recruited within 2 years of SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis.

In Peru, 41% participants reported LC symptoms. The most common LC symptoms were neurological (e.g., headache) and musculoskeletal (e.g., back pain). We did not detect an association between TB disease or Mtb infection and LC at this sample size. However, the quality-of-life dimensions worsened during the post-COVID period.

LC prevalence in Peru aligns with global trends, underscoring significant health burdens. Those with LC reported high levels of musculoskeletal and neurological symptoms, highlighting the need for long-term follow-up and larger studies in different geographic settings to dissect the impact of TB comorbidity on LC.