Long COVID or Post-COVID-19 Condition: Past, Present and Future Research Directions
The presence of symptoms after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (long-COVID) has become a worldwide healthcare emergency but remains underestimated and undertreated due to a lack of recognition of the condition and knowledge of the underlying mechanisms. In fact, the prevalence of post-COVID symptoms r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2959 |
| _version_ | 1797379984790126592 |
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| author | César Fernández-de-las-Peñas Arkiath Veettil Raveendran Rocco Giordano Lars Arendt-Nielsen |
| author_facet | César Fernández-de-las-Peñas Arkiath Veettil Raveendran Rocco Giordano Lars Arendt-Nielsen |
| author_sort | César Fernández-de-las-Peñas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The presence of symptoms after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (long-COVID) has become a worldwide healthcare emergency but remains underestimated and undertreated due to a lack of recognition of the condition and knowledge of the underlying mechanisms. In fact, the prevalence of post-COVID symptoms ranges from 50% during the first months after the infection up to 20% two-years after. This perspective review aimed to map the existing literature on post-COVID symptoms and to identify gaps in the literature to guide the global effort toward an improved understanding of long-COVID and suggest future research directions. There is a plethora of symptomatology that can be due to COVID-19; however, today, there is no clear classification and definition of this condition, termed long-COVID or post-COVID-19 condition. The heterogeneity in the symptomatology has led to the presence of groups/clusters of patients, which could exhibit different risk factors and different mechanisms. Viral persistence, long-lasting inflammation, immune dysregulation, autoimmune reactions, reactivation of latent infections, endothelial dysfunction and alteration in gut microbiota have been proposed as potential mechanisms explaining the complexity of long-COVID. In such an equation, viral biology (e.g., re-infections, SARS-CoV-2 variants), host biology (e.g., genetics, epigenetics) and external factors (e.g., vaccination) should be also considered. These various factors will be discussed in the current perspective review and future directions suggested. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:30:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6aed6e79d3eb45ce9ea9d5b981923a78 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:30:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-6aed6e79d3eb45ce9ea9d5b981923a782023-12-22T14:26:13ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-12-011112295910.3390/microorganisms11122959Long COVID or Post-COVID-19 Condition: Past, Present and Future Research DirectionsCésar Fernández-de-las-Peñas0Arkiath Veettil Raveendran1Rocco Giordano2Lars Arendt-Nielsen3Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Madrid, SpainGovt. Medical College, Kozhikode 676121, Kerala, IndiaCenter for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, DK-9220 Aalborg, DenmarkCenter for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, DK-9220 Aalborg, DenmarkThe presence of symptoms after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (long-COVID) has become a worldwide healthcare emergency but remains underestimated and undertreated due to a lack of recognition of the condition and knowledge of the underlying mechanisms. In fact, the prevalence of post-COVID symptoms ranges from 50% during the first months after the infection up to 20% two-years after. This perspective review aimed to map the existing literature on post-COVID symptoms and to identify gaps in the literature to guide the global effort toward an improved understanding of long-COVID and suggest future research directions. There is a plethora of symptomatology that can be due to COVID-19; however, today, there is no clear classification and definition of this condition, termed long-COVID or post-COVID-19 condition. The heterogeneity in the symptomatology has led to the presence of groups/clusters of patients, which could exhibit different risk factors and different mechanisms. Viral persistence, long-lasting inflammation, immune dysregulation, autoimmune reactions, reactivation of latent infections, endothelial dysfunction and alteration in gut microbiota have been proposed as potential mechanisms explaining the complexity of long-COVID. In such an equation, viral biology (e.g., re-infections, SARS-CoV-2 variants), host biology (e.g., genetics, epigenetics) and external factors (e.g., vaccination) should be also considered. These various factors will be discussed in the current perspective review and future directions suggested.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2959COVID-19post-COVIDlong-COVIDmechanismsvaccinereinfections |
| spellingShingle | César Fernández-de-las-Peñas Arkiath Veettil Raveendran Rocco Giordano Lars Arendt-Nielsen Long COVID or Post-COVID-19 Condition: Past, Present and Future Research Directions Microorganisms COVID-19 post-COVID long-COVID mechanisms vaccine reinfections |
| title | Long COVID or Post-COVID-19 Condition: Past, Present and Future Research Directions |
| title_full | Long COVID or Post-COVID-19 Condition: Past, Present and Future Research Directions |
| title_fullStr | Long COVID or Post-COVID-19 Condition: Past, Present and Future Research Directions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long COVID or Post-COVID-19 Condition: Past, Present and Future Research Directions |
| title_short | Long COVID or Post-COVID-19 Condition: Past, Present and Future Research Directions |
| title_sort | long covid or post covid 19 condition past present and future research directions |
| topic | COVID-19 post-COVID long-COVID mechanisms vaccine reinfections |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2959 |
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