We hear a lot about “long-haulers” and “long-COVID,” but what are the frequency and variety of persistent symptoms after COVID-19 infection? A study published in JAMA Network Open found that COVID-19 symptoms “commonly persisted beyond the acute phase of infection, with implications for health-associated functioning and quality of life; however, methodological improvements are needed to reliably quantify these risks.”

Health care professionals and patients have reported symptoms long after recovery from the acute phase of COVID-19 infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that COVID-19 has consequences for many organ systems. Most studies of COVID-19 risks have focused on mortality, which is highest among older populations, and have omitted or minimized the disease burden associated with persistent or long-term morbidity among individuals of all ages.

This systematic review found that COVID-19 symptoms frequently persist beyond the acute phase of infection, but there is a need to standardize designs and improve study quality. Persistent symptoms are a burden on individual patients and their families as well as on outpatient care, public health, and the economy.

– Assessment of the Frequency and Variety of Persistent Symptoms Among Patients With COVID-19 by Tahmina Nasserie, MPH; Michael Hittle, BS; Steven N. Goodman, MD, MHS, PhD

We all know someone who has lingering symptoms, sometimes debilitating, so it is refreshing to see that someone is studying this phenomenon.

Stay informed, stay well, and stay tuned!