Characterising Long Covid: a living systematic review

Michelen, M. et al. (2021) Characterising Long Covid: a living systematic review. BMJ Global Health, 6, e005427. (doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005427) (PMID:34580069) (PMCID:PMC8478580)

Abstract

Background: While it is now apparent clinical sequelae (often called Long Covid) may persist after acute Covid-19, their nature, frequency, and aetiology are poorly characterised. This study aims to regularly synthesise evidence on Long Covid characteristics, to inform clinical management, rehabilitation, and interventional studies to improve long term outcomes. Methods: A living systematic review. Medline, CINAHL (EBSCO), Global Health (Ovid), WHO Global Research Database on Covid-19, LitCOVID, and Google Scholar were searched up to 17th March 2021. Published studies including at least 100 people with confirmed or clinically suspected Covid-19 at 12 weeks or more post-onset were included. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics and meta-analyses to estimate prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Thirty-nine studies were included: 32 cohort, six cross-sectional, and one case-control. Most showed high or moderate risk of bias. None were set in low-income countries, limited studies included children. Studies reported on 10,951 people (48% female) in 12 countries. Most followed-up post hospital discharge (78%, 8520/10951). The longest mean follow-up was 221.7 (SD: 10.9) days post Covid-19 onset. An extensive range of symptoms with wide prevalence was reported, most commonly weakness (41%; 95% CI 25% to 59%), malaise (33%; 95% CI 15% to 57%), fatigue (31%; 95% CI 24% to 39%), concentration impairment (26%; 95% CI 21% to 32%), and breathlessness (25%; 95% CI 18% to 34%). Other frequent symptoms included musculoskeletal, neurological, and psychological. 37% (95% CI 18% to 60%) of people reported reduced quality of life. Conclusion: Long Covid is a complex condition with heterogeneous symptoms. The nature of the studies precludes a precise case definition or evaluation of risk factors. There is an urgent need for prospective, robust, standardised controlled studies into aetiology, risk factors, and biomarkers to characterise Long Covid in different at-risk populations and settings. Systematic review registration: The protocol was prospectively registered on the PROSPERO database (CRD42020211131).

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Funding:This work was supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Wellcome (215091/Z/18/Z), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1209135) and the EU FP7 project PREPARE (602525).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Scott, Dr Janet

Creator Roles

Scott, J.: Writing – review and editing

• Authors: Michelen, M., Manoharan, L., Elkheir, N., Cheng, V., Dagens, D., Hastie, C., O'Hara, M., Suett, J. C., Dahmash, D. T., Bugaeva, P., Rigby, I., Munblit, D., Harriss, E., Burls, A., Foote, C., Scott, J. T., Carson, G., Olliaro, P., Sigfrid, L., and Stavropoulou, C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: BMJ Global Health
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• ISSN: 2059-7908
• ISSN (Online): 2059-7908
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021
• First Published: First published in BMJ Global Health 6:e005427
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

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