Long COVID syndrome

Abstract

Compared to the average population, survivors of COVID-19 have chronically lower health status, experiencing long-term mental and physical effects of infection. First described in spring 2020, "Long COVID" (also known as post-acute sequelae of COVID- 19) describes recurrent, new, or persistent symptoms usually experienced for 12 or more weeks after initial infection with COVID-19 which were not present before infection. Common symptoms include fatigue, lingering cough and shortness of breath, chest pain and palpitations, neurological symptoms (brain fog, headache, changes in taste and smell, numbness, and tingling), anxiety, depression, and more. Although estimates of the prevalence of long COVID vary, studies suggest that a significant portion of COVID survivors are affected (around 40-50%), with between 3-7.5% of the general population reporting symptoms of long COVID. The pathophysiology of long COVID is not well understood but likely involves a prolonged post-infection inflammatory state. In this chapter, we describe the definition, prevalence, symptoms, pathophysiology, workup, treatment, and societal effects of long COVID.