Long COVID, a comprehensive systematic scoping review
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Date
2021-07Author
Akbarialiabad, Hossein
Taghrir, Mohammad H
Abdollahi, Ashkan
Ghahramani, Nasrollah
Kumar, Manasi
Paydar, Shahram
Razani, Babak
Mwangi, John
Asadi-Pooya, Ali A
Malekmakan, Leila
Bahar, Bastani
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Purpose: To find out what is known from literature about Long COVID until January 30, 2021.
Methods: We undertook a four-step search with no language restriction. A preliminary search was made to identify the keywords. A search strategy of all electronic databases resulted in 66 eligible studies. A forward and backward search of the references and citations resulted in additional 54 publications. Non-English language articles were translated using Google Translate. We conducted our scoping review based on the PRISMA-ScR Checklist.
Results: Of 120 papers, we found only one randomized clinical trial. Of the 67 original studies, 22 were cohort, and 28 were cross-sectional studies. Of the total 120 publications, 49.1% focused on signs and symptoms, 23.3% on management, and 10.8% on pathophysiology. Ten publications focused on imaging studies. The results are also presented extensively in a narrative synthesis in separated sections (nomenclature, diagnosis, pathophysiology, risk factors, signs/symptoms, management).
Conclusions: The controversies in its definition have impaired proper recognition and management. The predominant symptoms were: fatigue, breathlessness, arthralgia, sleep difficulties, and chest pain. Recent reports also point to the risk of long-term sequela with cutaneous, respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, mental health, neurologic, and renal involvement in those who survive the acute phase of the illness.
Citation
Akbarialiabad H, Taghrir MH, Abdollahi A, Ghahramani N, Kumar M, Paydar S, Razani B, Mwangi J, Asadi-Pooya AA, Malekmakan L, Bastani B. Long COVID, a comprehensive systematic scoping review. Infection. 2021 Jul 28:1–24. doi: 10.1007/s15010-021-01666-x. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34319569; PMCID: PMC8317481.Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10384]
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