Clinical patterns of somatic symptoms in patients suffering from post-acute long COVID: a systematic review.
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis
; 41(4): 515-545, 2022 Apr.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1680941
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Long COVID-19 may affect patients after hospital discharge.AIMS:
This study aims to describe the burden of the long-term persistence of clinical symptoms in COVID-19 patients.METHODS:
We conducted a systematic review by using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline. The PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for studies that included information on the prevalence of somatic clinical symptoms lasting at least 4 weeks after the onset of a PCR- or serology-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. The prevalence of persisting clinical symptoms was assessed and risk factors were described when investigated. Psychological symptoms and cognitive disorders were not evaluated in this study.RESULTS:
Thirty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. Eighteen studies involved in-patients only with a duration of follow-up of either less than 12 weeks, 12 weeks to 6 months, or more. In these studies, fatigue (16-64%), dyspnea (15-61%), cough (2-59%), arthralgia (8-55%), and thoracic pain (5-62%) were the most frequent persisting symptoms. In nineteen studies conducted in a majority of out-patients, the persistence of these symptoms was lower and 3% to 74% of patients reported prolonged smell and taste disorders. The main risk factors for persisting symptoms were being female, older, having comorbidities and severity at the acute phase of the disease.CONCLUSION:
COVID-19 patients should have access to dedicated multidisciplinary healthcare allowing a holistic approach. Effective outpatient care for patients with long-COVID-19 requires coordination across multiple sub-specialties, which can be proposed in specialized post-COVID units.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Medically Unexplained Symptoms
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Reviews
/
Systematic review/Meta Analysis
Topics:
Long Covid
/
Traditional medicine
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis
Journal subject:
Communicable Diseases
/
Microbiology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S10096-022-04417-4
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