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Aiyegbusi OL, Hughes SE, Turner G, Rivera SC, McMullan C, Chandan JS, Haroon S, Price G, Davies EH, Nirantharakumar K, Sapey E, Calvert MJ. Symptoms, complications and management of long COVID: a review. J R Soc Med 2021; 114:428-442. [PMID: 34265229 PMCID: PMC8450986 DOI: 10.1177/01410768211032850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 379] [Impact Index Per Article: 126.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, there are now over 160 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 3 million deaths. While the majority of infected individuals recover, a significant proportion continue to experience symptoms and complications after their acute illness. Patients with 'long COVID' experience a wide range of physical and mental/psychological symptoms. Pooled prevalence data showed the 10 most prevalent reported symptoms were fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle pain, joint pain, headache, cough, chest pain, altered smell, altered taste and diarrhoea. Other common symptoms were cognitive impairment, memory loss, anxiety and sleep disorders. Beyond symptoms and complications, people with long COVID often reported impaired quality of life, mental health and employment issues. These individuals may require multidisciplinary care involving the long-term monitoring of symptoms, to identify potential complications, physical rehabilitation, mental health and social services support. Resilient healthcare systems are needed to ensure efficient and effective responses to future health challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olalekan Lee Aiyegbusi
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Centre West Midlands, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Health Partners Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sarah E Hughes
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Centre West Midlands, Birmingham, UK
| | - Grace Turner
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Samantha Cruz Rivera
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Health Partners Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Christel McMullan
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Joht Singh Chandan
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Shamil Haroon
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Gary Price
- Centre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Krishnarajah Nirantharakumar
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Midlands Health Data Research UK, Birmingham, UK
| | - Elizabeth Sapey
- Birmingham Acute Care Research Group, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Acute Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Melanie J Calvert
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Centre West Midlands, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Health Partners Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Health Data Research UK, London, UK
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