Medicine · Literature

Research papers on Long COVID

Recent and highly-cited academic work on long covid, gathered from Semantic Scholar, CrossRef and OpenAlex.

1. Long COVID or Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC): An Overview of Biological Factors That May Contribute to Persistent Symptoms

   Amy D. Proal, Michael B. VanElzakker · 2021 · Frontiers in Microbiology · 879 citations

   The novel virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Across the globe, a subset of patients who sustain an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection are developing a wide range of persistent symptoms that do not resolve over the course of many months. These patients are being given the diagnosis Long COVID or Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). It is likely that individual patients with a PASC diagnosis have different underlying biological factors driving their symptoms, none of which are mutually exclusive. This paper details mechanisms by which RNA viruses beyond just SARS-CoV-2 have be connected to long-term health

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2. Long COVID: post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 with a cardiovascular focus

   Betty Raman, David A. Bluemke, Thomas Felix Lüscher, et al. · 2022 · European Heart Journal · 653 citations

   Emerging as a new epidemic, long COVID or post-acute sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a condition characterized by the persistence of COVID-19 symptoms beyond 3 months, is anticipated to substantially alter the lives of millions of people globally. Cardiopulmonary symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and autonomic manifestations such as postural orthostatic tachycardia are common and associated with significant disability, heightened anxiety, and public awareness. A range of cardiovascular (CV) abnormalities has been reported among patients beyond the acute phase and include myocardial inflammation, myocardial infarction, right ventricular dysfunction,

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3. Persistent clotting protein pathology in Long COVID/Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is accompanied by increased levels of antiplasmin

   E. Pretorius, M. Vlok, C. Venter, et al. · 2021 · Cardiovascular Diabetology · 460 citations

   Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2)-induced infection, the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is characterized by acute clinical pathologies, including various coagulopathies that may be accompanied by hypercoagulation and platelet hyperactivation. Recently, a new COVID-19 phenotype has been noted in patients after they have ostensibly recovered from acute COVID-19 symptoms. This new syndrome is commonly termed Long COVID/Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Here we refer to it as Long COVID/PASC. Lingering symptoms persist for as much as 6 months (or longer) after acute infection, where COVID-19 survivors complain of recurring fatigue or mus

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4. Prevalence of symptoms, comorbidities, fibrin amyloid microclots and platelet pathology in individuals with Long COVID/Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)

   Etheresia Pretorius, Chantelle Venter, Gert Jacobus Laubscher, et al. · 2022 · Cardiovascular Diabetology · 251 citations

   BACKGROUND: Fibrin(ogen) amyloid microclots and platelet hyperactivation previously reported as a novel finding in South African patients with the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) and Long COVID/Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), might form a suitable set of foci for the clinical treatment of the symptoms of Long COVID/PASC. A Long COVID/PASC Registry was subsequently established as an online platform where patients can report Long COVID/PASC symptoms and previous comorbidities. METHODS: In this study, we report on the comorbidities and persistent symptoms, using data obtained from 845 South African Long COVID/PASC patients. By using a previously published scoring system for fibrin a

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5. Unraveling the Mystery Surrounding Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19

   Rakhee Kizhuvappat Ramakrishnan, Tarek Kashour, Qutayba A. Hamid, et al. · 2021 · Frontiers in Immunology · 235 citations

   More than one year since its emergence, corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still looming large with a paucity of treatment options. To add to this burden, a sizeable subset of patients who have recovered from acute COVID-19 infection have reported lingering symptoms, leading to significant disability and impairment of their daily life activities. These patients are considered to suffer from what has been termed as "chronic" or "long" COVID-19 or a form of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, and patients experiencing this syndrome have been termed COVID-19 long-haulers. Despite recovery from infection, the persistence of atypical chronic symptoms, including extreme fatigue, shortness of bre

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6. Myalgia as a symptom at hospital admission by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection is associated with persistent musculoskeletal pain as long-term post-COVID sequelae: a case-control study

   César Fernández‐de‐las‐Peñas, Jorge Rodríguez‐Jiménez, Stella Fuensalida‐Novo, et al. · 2021 · Pain · 73 citations

   ABSTRACT: This study investigated the association between COVID-related myalgia experienced by patients at hospital admission and the presence of post-COVID symptoms. A case-control study including patients hospitalised due to COVID-19 between February 20 and May 31, 2020, was conducted. Patients reporting myalgia and patients without myalgia at hospital admission were scheduled for a telephone interview 7 months after hospital discharge. Hospitalisation and clinical data were collected from medical records. A list of post-COVID symptoms with attention to musculoskeletal pain was evaluated. Anxiety and depressive symptoms, and sleep quality were likewise assessed. From a total of 1200 hospit

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7. Global Prevalence of Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) or Long COVID: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

   Chen Chen, Spencer R. Haupert, Lauren Zimmermann, et al. · 2021 · 53 citations

   Importance As SARS-CoV-2 pervades worldwide, considerable focus has been placed on the longer lasting health effects of the virus on the human host and on the anticipated healthcare needs. Objective The primary aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), commonly known as long COVID, across the world and to assess geographic heterogeneities through a systematic review and meta-analysis. A second aim is to provide prevalence estimates for individual symptoms that have been commonly reported as PASC, based on the existing literature. Data Sources PubMed, Embase, and iSearch for preprints from medRxiv, bioRxiv, SSRN, and others, were searched on Jul

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8. Prevalence and determinants of post-acute sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection (Long COVID) among adults in Mexico during 2022: a retrospective analysis of nationally representative data

   O. Bello-Chavolla, C. Fermín-Martínez, D. Ramírez-García, et al. · 2024 · Lancet Regional Health - Americas · 46 citations

   Summary Background Post-acute sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) remains a concerning long-term complication of COVID-19. Here, we aimed to characterize the epidemiology of PASC in Mexico during 2022 and identify potential associations of covariates with PASC prevalence using nationally representative data. Methods We analyzed data from the 2022 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT) from 24,434 participants, representing 85,521,661 adults ≥20 years. PASC was defined using both the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) definition and a PASC score ≥12. Estimates of PASC prevalence were stratified by age, sex, rural vs. urban setting, social lag quart

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9. Deep Dive into the Long Haul: Analysis of Symptom Clusters and Risk Factors for Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 to Inform Clinical Care

   Nicole Hamilton Goldhaber, Jordan N. Kohn, William Scott Ogan, et al. · 2022 · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 44 citations

   Long COVID is a chronic condition characterized by symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, and cognitive impairment that persist or relapse months after an acute infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Many distinct symptoms have been attributed to Long COVID; however, little is known about the potential clustering of these symptoms and risk factors that may predispose patients to certain clusters. In this study, an electronic survey was sent to patients in the UC San Diego Health (UCSDH) system who tested positive for COVID-19, querying if patients were experiencing symptoms consistent with Long COVID. Based on survey results, along with patient demographics reported in the electronic health record

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10. The health impact of long COVID: a cross-sectional examination of health-related quality of life, disability, and health status among individuals with self-reported post-acute sequelae of SARS CoV-2 infection at various points of recovery

    C. Tak · 2023 · Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes · 35 citations

    1. Individuals with long COVID self-report persistently low levels of health-related quality of life, high levels of disability, and low levels of physical and mental health, many months post infection. 2. There was no significant relationship detected between the self-reported severity of acute infection and the self-reported severity of long COVID symptoms. Objective The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has continued to present a significant burden to global public health efforts. The purpose of this study was to estimate the health-related quality of life, disability, and health status of individuals with self-reported long COVID at various lengths of recovery. Methods We conducted a cross-se

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11. Prevalence of symptoms, comorbidities, �brin amyloid microclots and platelet pathology in individuals with Long COVID/ Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)

    E. Pretorius, C. Venter, G. J. Laubscher, et al. · 2022 · 33 citations

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12. Combined triple treatment of fibrin amyloid microclots and platelet pathology in individuals with Long COVID/ Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) can resolve their persistent symptoms

    Etheresia Pretorius, Chantelle Venter, Gert Jacobus Laubscher, et al. · 2021 · Research Square · 31 citations

    We recognise that fibrin(ogen) amyloid microclots and platelet hyperactivation, that we have previously observed in COVID-19 and Long COVID/Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) patients, might form a suitable set of foci for the clinical treatment of the symptoms of long COVID/PASC. We first report on the comorbidities and symptoms found in a cohort of 845 South African Long COVID/PASC patients who filled in the South African Long COVID/PASC registry, of which hypertension and high cholesterol levels (dyslipidaemia) were the most important comorbidities. The gender balance (70% female) and the most commonly reported Long COVID/PASC symptoms (fatigue, brain fog, loss of concentration and

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13. Long COVID or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC) and the Urgent Need to Identify Diagnostic Biomarkers and Risk Factors

    D. Parums · 2024 · Medical Science Monitor : International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research · 26 citations

    Long COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), also known as post-COVID-19 condition or post-COVID syndrome, can affect anyone infected with SARS-CoV-2, regardless of age or the severity of the initial symptoms of COVID-19. Long COVID/PASC is the continuation or development of new symptoms after three months from the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, which lasts for at least two months and has no other identifiable cause. Long COVID/PASC occurs in 10–20% of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The most common symptoms include fatigue, cognitive impairment (brain fog), and shortness of breath. However, more than 200 symptoms have been reported. No phenotypic or diagnostic biomar

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14. Tissue injury and leukocyte changes in post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: review of 2833 post-acute patient outcomes per immune dysregulation and microbial translocation in long COVID.

    Md. Sahidul Islam, Zhao-Xiong Wang, M. Abdel-Mohsen, et al. · 2023 · Journal of leukocyte biology · 22 citations

    A significant number of persons with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) experience persistent, recurrent, or new symptoms several months after the acute stage of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This phenomenon, termed post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) or long COVID, is associated with high viral titers during acute infection, a persistently hyperactivated immune system, tissue injury by NETosis-induced micro-thrombofibrosis (NETinjury), microbial translocation, complement deposition, fibrotic macrophages, the presence of autoantibodies, and lymphopenic immune environments. Here, we review the current literature on the immunological imbalances t

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15. Potential of Black Seeds (Nigella sativa) in the Management of Long COVID or Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) and Persistent COVID-19 Symptoms – An Insight

    Naina Mohamed Pakkir Maideen, Abdurazak Hassan Jumale, Ibrahim Ramadan Barakat, et al. · 2023 · Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets · 8 citations

    BACKGROUND: Some individuals may experience symptoms persisting for many months after the recovery from COVID-19 and patients with Long COVID are managed mainly with symptomatic treatment and supportive care. OBJECTIVE: This review article focuses on the beneficial effects of black seeds (Nigella sativa) in the management of long COVID and persistent COVID symptoms. METHODS: The literature was searched in databases such as LitCOVID, Web of Science, Google Scholar, bioRxiv, medRxiv, Science Direct, EBSCO, Scopus, Embase, and reference lists to identify studies, which evaluated various effects of black seeds (N. sativa) related to signs and symptoms of long COVID. RESULTS: Black seeds (N. sati

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16. Impact of Pre-Existing Comorbidities and Multimorbidities, Demography and Viral Variants on Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 ('Long COVID') in Dutch Primary Care: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

    M. Berends, M. Homburg, Thijmen Kupers, et al. · 2025 · International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases · 7 citations

    INTRODUCTION Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), or Long COVID, involves persistent symptoms following acute infection, posing a global health challenge. While a growing number of studies have investigated potential predictors and risk factors, uncertainties remain regarding their consistency and clinical applicability. This study investigates PASC prevalence, comorbidities, demographics, and viral variants using Dutch primary care electronic healthcare records (EHR). METHODS A retrospective cohort study used EHR data from 59 general practices in northern Netherlands, including 19,638 SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive patients from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021. PASC was identified via W

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17. Sleep and Long COVID—A Review and Exploration of Sleep Disturbances in Post Acute Sequelae of SARS-COV-2 (PASC) and Therapeutic Possibilities

    E. K. Lee, R. Auger · 2024 · Current Sleep Medicine Reports · 6 citations

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18. Long COVID or Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) in Children and Adolescents

    D. Setiabudi, Buti A. Azhali, Muhammad Akbar Tirtosudiro, et al. · 2024 · Clinical Medicine & Research · 6 citations

    Introduction: Few studies of children with long COVID (post-COVID-19 condition) or post-acute sequelae of SARS CoV-2 (PASC) have been reported. Those terms describe symptoms that persist for weeks or months or as new symptoms that develop after SARS-CoV-2 infection. This condition might be found to various degrees in the severity of COVID-19. This study aimed to describe long COVID in confirmed SARS-CoV-2-infected children. Design: An observational cross-sectional study. Setting: Tertiary care hospital between January and November 2021. Participants: Children, age 5–17 years, with virologically confirmed COVID?19. Methods: This study was conducted by completing an electronic form after infor

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19. Perioperative and anesthetic considerations for post-acute sequelae of COVID (PASC)/long COVID

    R. Yogendra, Alice A Perlowski, B. Johng, et al. · 2025 · Perioperative Medicine · 5 citations

    Post-acute sequelae of COVID (PASC), commonly known as long COVID, presents with a broad spectrum of medical conditions and symptoms persisting beyond 3 months post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, affecting over 18 million Americans and 65 million people worldwide. Despite its prevalence, to date, there are no specific clinical guidelines for the perioperative management of PASC patients. PASC is a complex, multisystemic condition leading to neurological, respiratory, and endocrine sequelae, potentially resulting from persistent viral presence, immune dysregulation, and/or end-organ damage. This manuscript discusses the implications of these sequelae on anesthesia practice, emphasizing the need for vi

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20. Predictors of post-acute sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 and long COVID in adults and children: a retrospective cohort study using us electronic health record data.

    Amber Asghar, Janet Enderle, Jose H. Salazar, et al. · 2025 · Journal of public health · 2 citations

    OBJECTIVE This study examined the incidence and predictors of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) and Long COVID in adults and children with confirmed Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Associations assessed included demographic factors, comorbidities, lab markers, and patient clinical complications. METHOD A retrospective cohort of 13,940 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (7836 adults and 6104 children) from the Optum® COVID-19 Electronic Health Record dataset was analyzed (1 June 2020-30 June 2021). PASC was defined as symptoms lasting <3 months postinfection and Long COVID as symptoms ≥3 months. Inclusion criteria were patients of all a

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21. Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 Checklist (PASC-C): a screening tool for Long COVID physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms.

    Daniela Mancini, Marina Maffoni, Valeria Torlaschi, et al. · 2024 · Annali dell Istituto Superiore di Sanità · 2 citations

    BACKGROUND: The management of Long COVID symptoms is necessary. This study proposes a screening tool for psycho-physical COVID-19 sequelae. Patients' experiences after COVID-19 are also described. METHOD: 84 COVID-19 patients (66.2±11.0 years old; 71.4% male) underwent a phone interview 1-2 years after the disease using the ad-hoc "Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 Checklist (PASC-C)". It explores 30 physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms clustered into 10 areas, with possible clinical recommendations in case of high severity scores (>50) of a symptom or the presence of two or more ones within the same area. RESULTS: Overall, fatigue (69%), dyspnea (52.4%), memory disturbances (44%),

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22. The use of oral anticoagulation at the time of acute COVID-19 infection and subsequent development of long-COVID/post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection

    F. Frost, J. Rivera-Caravaca, Gregory Y. H. Lip · 2025 · Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis · 1 citations

    Long COVID (LC) or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) is defined as ongoing, relapsing or new symptoms/conditions persisting after an acute COVID-19 infection. Given the potential role of oral anticoagulants (OAC) in treating thrombotic sequelae of LC/PASC, we investigated whether prevalent OAC use at the time of acute COVID-19 infection was associated with reduced development of LC/PASC. Retrospective cohort study within the TriNetx network. The primary cohort was defined as adults with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. We defined OAC users as those who had received OACs (either direct-acting OACs [DOACs] or vitamin K antagonists [VKA]) in the preceding 3-months and non-use

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23. Evaluation of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) Index and a Recent Long COVID Criteria in Korean Long COVID-19 Cohort

    Kyungsup Kwon, Choi-Young Jang, Woori Kim, et al. · 2026 · Journal of Korean Medical Science · 1 citations

    Background To compare the post-acute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (PASC) index and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) criteria in identifying long coronavirus disease (COVID) among adults with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted from November 2022 to February 2025 at a single tertiary care hospital in Seoul, Korea. Adults aged 18 years or older with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were enrolled, yielding a total of 183 participants. Follow-up assessments took place at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-infection. The primary outcome was the prevalence of long C

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24. SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccination, affected on post-acute-COVID-19-sequelae symptoms (long COVID-19)

    Attapon Cheepsattayakorn, Ruangrong Cheepsattayakorn, Porntep Siriwanarangsun · 2022 · Journal of Human Virology & Retrovirology

    no significantly statistical differences. 2Among PASC participants, they revealed the median half-life of RBD-and spike-binding IgG levels of 181 (95 % CI : 147-230) and 233 (95 % CI : 183-324) days, whereas among those without PASC demonstrated 144 (95 % CI : 113-196) and 170 (95 % CI: 125-252) days, respectively. 2 ConclusionIn conclusion, the majority of PASC patients were well tolerated to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccine and have good immunogenicity.However, further investigations are urgently needed to confirm the COVID-19-vaccine-related strong evidence on improvement of PASC symptoms.

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