The Multisystem Impact of Long COVID: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

(1) Background: COVID-19 was responsible for the latest pandemic, shaking and reshaping healthcare systems worldwide. Its late clinical manifestations make it linger in medical memory as a debilitating illness over extended periods. (2) Methods: the recent literature was systematically analyzed to categorize and examine the symptomatology and pathophysiology of Long COVID across various bodily systems, including pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neuropsychiatric, dermatological, renal, hematological, and endocrinological aspects. (3) Results: The review outlines the diverse clinical manifestations of Long COVID across multiple systems, emphasizing its complexity and challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Factors such as pre-existing conditions, initial COVID-19 severity, vaccination status, gender, and age were identified as influential in the manifestation and persistence of Long COVID symptoms. This condition is highlighted as a debilitating disease capable of enduring over an extended period and presenting new symptoms over time. (4) Conclusions: Long COVID emerges as a condition with intricate multi-systemic involvement, complicating its diagnosis and treatment. The findings underscore the necessity for a nuanced understanding of its diverse manifestations to effectively manage and address the evolving nature of this condition over time.

Navigating the Long Haul: A Comprehensive Review of Long-COVID Sequelae, Patient Impact, Pathogenesis, and Management

“…Long COVID, also referred to as PASC, presents as a complex and multidimensional illness affecting a significant proportion of individuals recovering from acute COVID-19 infection [13]. This condition is associated with a diverse range of symptoms and problems, including chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, respiratory difficulties, cardiovascular irregularities, and psychological distress [13].…”

“…Long COVID, also referred to as PASC, presents as a complex and multidimensional illness affecting a significant proportion of individuals recovering from acute COVID-19 infection [13]. This condition is associated with a diverse range of symptoms and problems, including chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, respiratory difficulties, cardiovascular irregularities, and psychological distress [13]. However, the precise underlying processes of long COVID remain unknown, presenting significant challenges for healthcare practitioners as it necessitates a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation [13].…”

“…Long COVID, also called PASC, presents as a complex and multifaceted illness affecting a significant proportion of individuals recovering from an acute COVID-19 infection [17]. Among the most common symptoms of long COVID are chronic fatigue, fever, pain, breathlessness, anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) [13,17]. Additional general symptoms may include fatigue, fever, and pain [18].…”

“…However, evidence regarding the underlying mechanisms remains limited, with available studies exhibiting heterogeneity [25]. Managing long COVID necessitates a nuanced understanding of its diverse manifestations to effectively address its evolving nature over time [13]. This entails the development of biomarkers for early detection, prognosis, and monitoring, as well as the establishment of evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, and management [13].…”

“…Managing long COVID necessitates a nuanced understanding of its diverse manifestations to effectively address its evolving nature over time [13]. This entails the development of biomarkers for early detection, prognosis, and monitoring, as well as the establishment of evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, and management [13]. Public health initiatives should prioritize increasing awareness, advocating preventative measures, and providing support and services to patients experiencing long-term symptoms [13].…”