Long-term sequelae following previous coronavirus epidemics.

ABSTRACT

Before the current pandemic, there had been two global epidemics from major coronavirus outbreaks since the turn of the century severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Both epidemics left survivors with fatigue, persistent shortness of breath, reduced quality of life and a significant burden of mental health problems.It is likely that some of the chronic problems encountered by survivors of SARS and MERS may be relevant for medical planning of the services required for survivors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Given the similarities between the diseases, the recovery and rehabilitation of the survivors of COVID-19 is likely to be focused around cardiopulmonary sequelae, fatigue and the psychological burden of COVID-19, but in a much larger population.