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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2023; 44(01): 130-142
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1759568
Review Article

“Long Haulers”

Denyse D. Lutchmansingh
1   Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
,
Jean Paul Higuero Sevilla
1   Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
,
Jennifer D. Possick
1   Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
,
Mridu Gulati
1   Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
› Author Affiliations
Funding M.G. is supported by a grant from NHLBI (grant no.: R01 HL12580–01A1), Boehringer Ingelheim, and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
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Abstract

Post-COVID conditions continue to afflict patients long after acute severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) infection. Over 50 symptoms across multiple organ systems have been reported, with pulmonary, cardiovascular, and neuropsychiatric sequelae occurring most frequently. Multiple terms have been used to describe post-COVID conditions including long COVID, long-haul COVID, postacute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, long-term effects of COVID, and chronic COVID-19; however, standardized assessments and treatment algorithms for patients have generally been lacking. This review discusses the epidemiology and risk factors for post-COVID conditions and provides a general overview of the diagnostic assessment and treatment of specific manifestations. Data derived from the multitude of observational studies and scientific investigations into pathogenesis are providing a clearer understanding of the distinct phenotypes of post-COVID conditions. Insight gained from these studies and ongoing interventional trials continues to lead to the development of clinical protocols directed toward improving COVID-19 survivors' quality of life and preventing or reducing long-term morbidity.

Keywords

long COVID - post-COVID conditions - SARS-CoV-2


Publication History

Article published online:
16 January 2023

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