Symptoms and long-term consequences of long COVID - a systematic evidence synthesis

It is still unclear which long-term health consequences are directly related to a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, how many people are affected and in what way, and which risk and protective factors are important for long COVID. The complex clinical picture and a heterogeneous state of research still make it difficult to provide definite answers to these questions. However, answers are needed to ensure the best possible health care for people with long COVID and prevent long-term health consequences that affect quality of life, ability to perform daily activities and participate in society. The RKI has therefore undertaken a comprehensive, systematic inventory (Scoping Review) of epidemiological studies with a key date of 5 November 2021. Methodological aspects such as study design and duration, characteristics of the study population (e.g. age groups, certain occupational groups) as well as health endpoints (e.g. symptoms, quality of life, etc.) and other information were systematically recorded. The scoping review was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Details on the methodological procedure can be found in the study protocol and final project report.

Results of the scoping review were flexibly summarised in the form of evidence maps according to different questions. The maps can be used as a data repository for systematic reviews in which underlying studies can be made automatically visible and research gaps identified. Based on the scoping review, systematic reviews are being conducted at the RKI on health consequences with effects on quality of life and activities in everyday life. The literature base is also being updated in the process.

Institute for General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of the Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Germany
Juan Victor Ariel Franco
Maria-Inti Metzendorf

Research Department, Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Luis Ignacio Garegnani
Gisela Oltra

Department of Health Science, Universidad Nacional de La Matanza, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Leonel Fabrizio Trivisonno
Nadia Sgarbossa

Robert Koch Institute
Christa Scheidt-Nave
Benjamin Barnes
Denise Ducks
Katharina Heldt
Rebekka Mumm

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