Long-Term Impact of COVID-19: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis
Background: The long-term impact of COVID-19 is still unknown. This study aimed to explore post COVID-19 effects on patients chest computed tomography (CT), lung function, respiratory symptoms, fatigue, functional capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and the ability to return to work be...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Biomedicines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/9/8/900 |
| _version_ | 1797524613927796736 |
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| author | Diana C. Sanchez-Ramirez Kaylene Normand Yang Zhaoyun Rodrigo Torres-Castro |
| author_facet | Diana C. Sanchez-Ramirez Kaylene Normand Yang Zhaoyun Rodrigo Torres-Castro |
| author_sort | Diana C. Sanchez-Ramirez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The long-term impact of COVID-19 is still unknown. This study aimed to explore post COVID-19 effects on patients chest computed tomography (CT), lung function, respiratory symptoms, fatigue, functional capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and the ability to return to work beyond 3 months post infection. Methods: A systematic search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, and Ovid MEDLINE on 22 May 2021, to identify studies that reported persistent effects of COVID-19 beyond 3 months follow-up. Data on the proportion of patients who had the outcome were collected and analyzed using a one-group meta-analysis. Results: Data were extracted from 24 articles that presented information on a total of 5323 adults, post-infection, between 3 to 6 months after symptom onset or hospital discharge. The pooled prevalence of CT abnormalities was 59% (95% CI 44–73, I<sup>2</sup> = 96%), abnormal lung function was 39% (95% CI 24–55, I<sup>2</sup> = 94%), fatigue was 38% (95% CI 27–49, I<sup>2</sup> = 98%), dyspnea was 32% (95% CI 24–40, I<sup>2</sup> = 98%), chest paint/tightness was 16% (95% CI 12–21, I<sup>2</sup> = 94%), and cough was 13%, (95% CI 9–17, I<sup>2</sup> = 94%). Decreased functional capacity and HRQoL were found in 36% (95% CI 22–49, I<sup>2</sup> = 97%) and 52% (95% CI 33–71, I<sup>2</sup> = 94%), respectively. On average, 8 out of 10 of the patients had returned to work or reported no work impairment. Conclusion: Post-COVID-19 patients may experience persistent respiratory symptoms, fatigue, decreased functional capacity and decreased quality of life up to 6 months after infection. Further studies are needed to establish the extent to which post-COVID-19 effects continue beyond 6 months, how they interact with each other, and to clarify their causes and their effective management. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:59:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f9293ee627cb4cfe999af6ed3ea1ca3e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:59:57Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj.art-f9293ee627cb4cfe999af6ed3ea1ca3e2023-11-22T06:51:42ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592021-07-019890010.3390/biomedicines9080900Long-Term Impact of COVID-19: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-AnalysisDiana C. Sanchez-Ramirez0Kaylene Normand1Yang Zhaoyun2Rodrigo Torres-Castro3Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T6, CanadaDepartment of Respiratory Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T6, CanadaSchool of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, ChinaDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago 8320000, ChileBackground: The long-term impact of COVID-19 is still unknown. This study aimed to explore post COVID-19 effects on patients chest computed tomography (CT), lung function, respiratory symptoms, fatigue, functional capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and the ability to return to work beyond 3 months post infection. Methods: A systematic search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, and Ovid MEDLINE on 22 May 2021, to identify studies that reported persistent effects of COVID-19 beyond 3 months follow-up. Data on the proportion of patients who had the outcome were collected and analyzed using a one-group meta-analysis. Results: Data were extracted from 24 articles that presented information on a total of 5323 adults, post-infection, between 3 to 6 months after symptom onset or hospital discharge. The pooled prevalence of CT abnormalities was 59% (95% CI 44–73, I<sup>2</sup> = 96%), abnormal lung function was 39% (95% CI 24–55, I<sup>2</sup> = 94%), fatigue was 38% (95% CI 27–49, I<sup>2</sup> = 98%), dyspnea was 32% (95% CI 24–40, I<sup>2</sup> = 98%), chest paint/tightness was 16% (95% CI 12–21, I<sup>2</sup> = 94%), and cough was 13%, (95% CI 9–17, I<sup>2</sup> = 94%). Decreased functional capacity and HRQoL were found in 36% (95% CI 22–49, I<sup>2</sup> = 97%) and 52% (95% CI 33–71, I<sup>2</sup> = 94%), respectively. On average, 8 out of 10 of the patients had returned to work or reported no work impairment. Conclusion: Post-COVID-19 patients may experience persistent respiratory symptoms, fatigue, decreased functional capacity and decreased quality of life up to 6 months after infection. Further studies are needed to establish the extent to which post-COVID-19 effects continue beyond 6 months, how they interact with each other, and to clarify their causes and their effective management.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/9/8/900COVID-19persistent symptomslong-term effectsfollow-uplung functionrespiratory symptoms |
| spellingShingle | Diana C. Sanchez-Ramirez Kaylene Normand Yang Zhaoyun Rodrigo Torres-Castro Long-Term Impact of COVID-19: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis Biomedicines COVID-19 persistent symptoms long-term effects follow-up lung function respiratory symptoms |
| title | Long-Term Impact of COVID-19: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis |
| title_full | Long-Term Impact of COVID-19: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Long-Term Impact of COVID-19: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-Term Impact of COVID-19: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis |
| title_short | Long-Term Impact of COVID-19: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis |
| title_sort | long term impact of covid 19 a systematic review of the literature and meta analysis |
| topic | COVID-19 persistent symptoms long-term effects follow-up lung function respiratory symptoms |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/9/8/900 |
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