Long COVID and the Military: A Current Research Landscape, Knowledge Gaps, and Future Directions

Abstract

Introduction This narrative review highlights the impact and epidemiology of post-COVID conditions (PCC, ‘Long COVID’) in military service members and beneficiaries, characterizing the threat of Long COVID to military readiness. We leveraged this review to propose a Long COVID research road map for Military Health System (MHS)-based studies, identifying key questions and knowledge gaps that the Department of Defense research enterprise is well-positioned to address. Materials and Methods We searched MEDLINE (PubMed) in addition to MHS conference abstracts and websites, bibliographies of relevant published articles and https://clinicaltrials.gov/. Results Multiple studies in U.S., U.K., and European military service members have noted medically attended and patient reported post-acute sequelae and symptoms across the domains of cardiorespiratory, neurocognitive, and mental health. Studies have also noted an association with SARS-CoV-2 infection and fitness in young adult service members, but the ongoing prevalence, morbidity, and functional impact of Long COVID in military populations in the current era remains unclear. All identified studies have limitations. Conclusions Considerable research has been conducted to understand the risk of and risk factors associated with Long COVID in active duty, much in the earlier pandemic period. Future research priorities include establishing Long COVID definitions most relevant to active duty personnel and conducting studies to delineate, treat, and prevent Long COVID’s impact on cognitive, cardiorespiratory, and overall health and fitness for duty. Many considerations in this review article may also apply to post-acute sequelae from other infectious diseases, which pose risks to military health and readiness, including future respiratory virus pandemics.