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Long COVID

Study findings updated . AI-assisted evidence summary, not individual medical advice or a clinician endorsement.

THE SHORT VERSION

What’s worth knowing.

The key findings, what they mean, and the context that matters.

THE HEADLINE TAKEAWAY1 in 12 US adultshave ever had long COVID, per a 2024 national survey

About 1 in 12 American adults say they have had long COVID.

In a national CDC household survey, 8.3% of US adults said in 2024 that they had ever had long COVID, meaning new symptoms lasting 3 months or longer after COVID-19. That share rose from 7.0% in 2022, then leveled off. About 3.3% still had symptoms. Of those, 19.8%, roughly 1 in 5, said long COVID limited their daily activities a lot.

Long COVID has not faded from American life. A steady share of adults still live with it, and it was reported more often by women, middle-aged adults and people with lower incomes, groups that may need targeted support. This is a self-reported survey snapshot, so long COVID was not confirmed by doctors and the survey cannot show what caused it.

See the evidence

Repeated nationally representative survey (National Health Interview Survey) of 88,731 US adults, interviewed in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

From the study: “In the overall population, the prevalence of ever long COVID increased from 7.0% (95% CI, 6.6-7.3%) in 2022 to 8.4% (95% CI, 8.0-8.8%) in 2023, plateauing at 8.3% (95% CI, 7.9-8.7%) in 2024”

1 in 12 US adults

Jia X et al. Trends in long COVID among US adults, 2022-2024. Frontiers in public health. 2026.

From the study: “3.4% [95% CI, 3.1-3.6%] in 2022, 3.6% [95% CI, 3.3-3.9%] in 2023, and 3.3 [95% CI, 3.1-3.6%] in 2024”

1 in 12 US adults

Jia X et al. Trends in long COVID among US adults, 2022-2024. Frontiers in public health. 2026.

From the study: “Among those with current long COVID, 19.8% reported significant activity limitation”

1 in 12 US adults

Jia X et al. Trends in long COVID among US adults, 2022-2024. Frontiers in public health. 2026.

02

Most people with long COVID recover, though it often takes months.

92% by 24 monthsestimated share whose symptoms fell back to their own pre-COVID levels

A Dutch population study tracked adults' symptoms before and after infection. Among adults who developed long COVID, an estimated 92% saw symptoms fall back to their own pre-infection levels within 24 months. The median (typical) time was 226 days. Each extra symptom at diagnosis was linked to a lower chance of recovery, and young adults recovered more often than middle-aged ones.

Because each person was compared with their own pre-COVID health, this is one of the clearest views of long COVID's natural course: improvement is the norm, mostly in the first several months, but those with many symptoms may need longer support. The 92% is a statistical projection from people followed about a year on average, mostly women in the northern Netherlands, so it may not fit every group.

See the evidence

Long-running Dutch population cohort (Lifelines) in which adults filled out up to 31 COVID questionnaires between March 2020 and October 2022.

From the study: “Symptom decline to pre-infection baseline or below was observed in 558 participants; the Kaplan-Meier 24-month symptom decline estimate was 92%.”

92% by 24 months

Brunet, Jean-Patrick L et al.. Recovery trajectories and predictors of symptom resolution in post-COVID-19 condition: a population-based cohort study.. The Lancet regional health. Europe. 2026.

From the study: “Median time to symptom decline was 226 days (IQR 182-372), with most improvement within the first 235 days before slowing and plateauing.”

92% by 24 months

Brunet, Jean-Patrick L et al.. Recovery trajectories and predictors of symptom resolution in post-COVID-19 condition: a population-based cohort study.. The Lancet regional health. Europe. 2026.

From the study: “Greater symptom burden was associated with a lower likelihood of recovery (HR per additional symptom 0.69, 95% CI 0.63-0.76), whereas younger age had a higher likelihood of recovery compared with middle adulthood (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.06-2.18).”

92% by 24 months

Brunet, Jean-Patrick L et al.. Recovery trajectories and predictors of symptom resolution in post-COVID-19 condition: a population-based cohort study.. The Lancet regional health. Europe. 2026.

03

A long Paxlovid course did not ease long COVID symptoms.

15 or 25 days: no helpPaxlovid courses vs placebo in adults with long COVID, in a randomized trial

In a US trial, 959 adults with long COVID symptoms lasting at least 12 weeks were randomly given the antiviral nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) for 15 or 25 days, or a placebo (dummy pill). Neither course beat placebo for any of three symptom groups: thinking problems, dizziness on standing, or crashes after exertion.

A leading theory holds that leftover virus drives long COVID. If so, an antiviral should help, but here it did not, so people should be cautious about off-label antiviral courses while better treatments are sought. The trial tested one antiviral for a short course, so it cannot rule out benefit for particular subgroups or for other ways of targeting the virus.

See the evidence

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial (RECOVER-VITAL) at 69 US sites, enrolling from July 2023 to September 2024.

From the study: “Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir for 15 days or 25 days showed no evidence of benefit in long COVID in any of the three phenotypes studied.”

15 or 25 days: no help

Baden LR et al. Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir targeting viral persistence in post-COVID-19 condition (long COVID) in the USA (RECOVER-VITAL): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. The Lancet. Infectious diseases. 2026.

From the study: “Of these, 964 were randomly allocated and 959 participants, excluding four participants who were later found ineligible and one who did not initiate treatment, were enrolled in the three phenotypes: 332 to cognitive, 334 to autonomic, and 332 to exercise.”

15 or 25 days: no help

Baden LR et al. Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir targeting viral persistence in post-COVID-19 condition (long COVID) in the USA (RECOVER-VITAL): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. The Lancet. Infectious diseases. 2026.

From the study: “No statistically significant benefits were observed for any phenotype for primary endpoints.”

15 or 25 days: no help

Baden LR et al. Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir targeting viral persistence in post-COVID-19 condition (long COVID) in the USA (RECOVER-VITAL): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. The Lancet. Infectious diseases. 2026.

04

Early metformin, a cheap diabetes pill, lowered later long COVID diagnoses.

41% fewer casesdrop in long COVID diagnoses with early metformin vs placebo, randomized trial

In a US trial, adults aged 30 to 85 with overweight or obesity and a new COVID-19 infection were randomly given metformin or a placebo (dummy pill). By day 300, 6·3% of the metformin group had a long COVID diagnosis versus 10·4% of the placebo group. Ivermectin and fluvoxamine, tested alongside, showed no effect.

Metformin is widely available, low-cost and considered safe, so it is a realistic option to help prevent long COVID, unlike ivermectin, which did nothing here. Long COVID was a secondary outcome in high-risk adults infected mostly before Omicron; a newer trial in lower-risk, mostly immune adults found a weaker effect.

See the evidence

Randomized, quadruple-blind trial (COVID-OUT) at six US sites; 1126 adults enrolled from December 2020 to January 2022 were followed about 10 months.

From the study: “The cumulative incidence of long COVID by day 300 was 6·3% (95% CI 4·2-8·2) in participants who received metformin and 10·4% (7·8-12·9) in those who received identical metformin placebo (hazard ratio [HR] 0·59, 95% CI 0·39-0·89; p=0·012).”

41% fewer cases

Bramante CT et al. Outpatient treatment of COVID-19 and incidence of post-COVID-19 condition over 10 months (COVID-OUT): a multicentre, randomised, quadruple-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 trial. The Lancet. Infectious diseases. 2023.

From the study: “Outpatient treatment with metformin reduced long COVID incidence by about 41%, with an absolute reduction of 4·1%, compared with placebo.”

41% fewer cases

Bramante CT et al. Outpatient treatment of COVID-19 and incidence of post-COVID-19 condition over 10 months (COVID-OUT): a multicentre, randomised, quadruple-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 trial. The Lancet. Infectious diseases. 2023.

From the study: “There was no effect on cumulative incidence of long COVID with ivermectin (HR 0·99, 95% CI 0·59-1·64) or fluvoxamine (1·36, 0·78-2·34) compared with placebo.”

41% fewer cases

Bramante CT et al. Outpatient treatment of COVID-19 and incidence of post-COVID-19 condition over 10 months (COVID-OUT): a multicentre, randomised, quadruple-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 trial. The Lancet. Infectious diseases. 2023.

05

ME/CFS, a disabling fatigue illness, was far more common after COVID.

4.5% vs 0.6%of COVID-infected vs never-infected US adults met criteria for ME/CFS

In a large US study, 4.5% of adults who had COVID-19 met clinical criteria for ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome), versus 0.6% of adults never infected. ME/CFS means deep, lasting fatigue that worsens after small efforts, plus unrefreshing sleep. Those followed from infection developed it at 4.9× the rate of matched uninfected adults (hazard ratio).

ME/CFS is long known to follow other infections and is often disabling. Seeing it this often after COVID suggests many new cases, so doctors should ask long COVID patients whether effort triggers crashes. Diagnoses relied on self-reported symptom surveys rather than doctor exams, and volunteers with lingering symptoms may have been more likely to enroll.

See the evidence

Part of the NIH-funded RECOVER-Adult cohort, which surveyed 11,785 infected and 1439 uninfected adults across the US every 3 months, through September 2024.

From the study: “The proportion of all RECOVER-Adult participants that met criteria for ME/CFS following SARS-CoV-2 infection was 4.5% (531 of 11,785) compared to 0.6% (9 of 1439) in uninfected participants.”

4.5% vs 0.6%

Vernon SD et al. Incidence and Prevalence of Post-COVID-19 Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Report from the Observational RECOVER-Adult Study. Journal of general internal medicine. 2025.

From the study: “The incidence rate of ME/CFS in participants followed from time of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 2.66 (95% CI 2.63-2.70) per 100 person-years while the rate in matched uninfected participants was 0.93 (95% CI 0.91-10.95) per 100 person-years: a hazard ratio of 4.93 (95% CI 3.62-6.71).”

4.5% vs 0.6%

Vernon SD et al. Incidence and Prevalence of Post-COVID-19 Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Report from the Observational RECOVER-Adult Study. Journal of general internal medicine. 2025.

06

Lost US wages tied to long COVID reached an estimated $218 billion.

$218 billionestimated wages lost in 2023 by working-age US adults with long COVID

Using national Census Bureau surveys, a researcher estimated that working-age US adults with long COVID lost $211 billion in earnings in 2022 and $218 billion in 2023. Adults with long COVID were more likely than those without it to report recent job loss, trouble paying household bills, and anxiety or depression, and these risks rose as symptoms limited daily life more.

Long COVID reaches beyond health into paychecks, rent and mental health, which makes workplace accommodations and disability support part of the public health response. The online survey had very low response rates and relied on self-reported symptoms, so the dollar figures are rough model estimates, not measured losses.

See the evidence

Analysis of US Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey data on more than 375,000 adults, collected in late 2022 and late 2023.

From the study: “The lost earnings due to long COVID among working-aged adults are estimated to total $211 billion in 2022 and $218 billion in 2023.”

$218 billion

Kim D. A nationwide study of risk factors for long COVID and its economic and mental health consequences in the United States. Communications medicine. 2025.

From the study: “I also find having long COVID is linked to higher risks of recent unemployment, financial hardship, and anxiety and depressive symptomatology, with evidence of dose-response relationships.”

$218 billion

Kim D. A nationwide study of risk factors for long COVID and its economic and mental health consequences in the United States. Communications medicine. 2025.

07

Children reinfected with COVID were more often diagnosed with long COVID.

2.1× the riskrelative risk of a long COVID diagnosis after a second vs first infection, US kids

In records from 40 US children's hospitals and health systems during the Omicron era, children and young adults under 21 were diagnosed with long COVID at 2.1× the rate after a second infection as after a first (relative risk). Absolute rates stayed low: 1883·7 per million per 6 months after reinfection versus 903·7 after a first infection.

A first infection did not seem to shield children from long COVID after the next one. Heart, smell, pain, fatigue and mood problems were also more common after reinfection, supporting efforts to limit repeat infections in kids. Relies on doctors' diagnosis codes in health records, which likely miss many cases, and cannot prove the second infection caused the extra risk.

See the evidence

Retrospective health-record study (RECOVER-EHR) of nearly half a million US children and young adults infected from January 2022 to October 2023.

From the study: “Reinfection was associated with a significantly increased risk of an overall PASC diagnosis (U09.9) (RR 2·08 [1·68-2·59])”

2.1× the risk

Zhang B et al. Long COVID associated with SARS-CoV-2 reinfection among children and adolescents in the omicron era (RECOVER-EHR): a retrospective cohort study. The Lancet. Infectious diseases. 2026.

From the study: “The incident rate of PASC diagnosis (U09.9) per million people per 6 months was 903·7 (95% CI 780·9-1026·5) in the first infection group and 1883·7 (1565·1-2202·3) in the second infection group.”

2.1× the risk

Zhang B et al. Long COVID associated with SARS-CoV-2 reinfection among children and adolescents in the omicron era (RECOVER-EHR): a retrospective cohort study. The Lancet. Infectious diseases. 2026.

Study-specific findings. Different populations, treatments and follow-up periods can produce different results.

Read all 7 study explanationsThe complete approved explanations, with study-specific limits and original results.
THE RESEARCH, AS IT ARRIVES

Latest studies.

The newest findings added to this collection.
The learning from each, already distilled.

  1. STUDY 01Findings added
    TL;DR

    Long COVID was recorded more often in people with autoimmune rheumatic diseases

    2.8% vs 1.5%

    Long COVID was recorded in 2.8% of patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, versus 1.5% of matched patients without those diseases.

    Researchers looked back at national US records, using administrative codes or clinic visits to identify Long COVID. Other differences between the matched groups could still partly explain the result. The study cannot show cause and effect.

    Study details & original results

    Singh, Namrata et al.. Higher risk of Long COVID among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases and immunomodulatory therapy: a retrospective cohort analysis of national US data.. Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.). 2026.

    Long COVID occurrence among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases versus matched non-AIRD patients

    2.8% vs 1.5%

    Adjusted risk of Long COVID among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases versus matched patients without autoimmune rheumatic diseases

    aHR 1.56
    95% CI: 1.45-1.67

    Citation in Long COVID
  2. STUDY 02Findings added
    TL;DR

    Symptoms affected fewer body systems, but routine tests did not predict change

    In this Long COVID group, the middle number of body systems with symptoms fell from 4 to 2 during follow-up. Routine lab tests did not distinguish symptom patterns or predict how symptoms changed.

    This observational study followed people at one center. Follow-up length is not given here. Small groupings in routine test results reflected age differences. Routine tests may miss biological signs targeted by more specialized tests.

    Study details & original results

    Oberhauser, Viola et al.. Routine laboratory data are decoupled from symptom phenotype and prognosis in Long COVID: within-cohort variation is dominated by age.. Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine. 2026.

    Symptom burden decreased during follow-up in this single-center Long COVID cohort despite the absence of routine laboratory correlates.

    Median 4 to 2 organ systems; p=2.5 × 10-19

    Among 503 patients assigned to three age-independent symptom phenotypes, no routine analyte remained associated after false-discovery-rate correction, adjustment, or 50 pseudo-class draws.

    0 of 89 analytes

    Routine analytes did not predict the symptom course using the study's nested cross-validated elastic-net model.

    AUC 0.46

    Equivalence testing found laboratory values equivalent across symptom phenotypes for most assessed analytes.

    86/89 analytes within ±0.5 SD; 63/70 within the reference change value

    Routine-analyte clustering showed no convincing structure across two to eight clusters; the weak separation tracked age and disappeared after age residualization.

    Silhouette ≤0.09; age 50.5 vs. 38 years

    Citation in Long COVID
  3. STUDY 03Findings added
    TL;DR

    Lasting symptoms were more common after more severe COVID-19

    34.4% vs 16.9%

    At 12 months, lasting symptoms occurred in 34.4% after moderate or severe COVID-19 versus 16.9% after mild COVID-19. This meant at least two of five specified symptoms. Earlier checks showed the same pattern.

    The study at one hospital providing advanced specialist care in Puducherry combined information collected by looking back and following people forward. Symptoms were self-reported. People may not recall earlier symptoms accurately, and results may not apply elsewhere.

    Study details & original results

    Renjana, S R et al.. Incidence and Determinants of Post-Coronavirus Disease Syndrome by Disease Severity: An Ambispective Cohort Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Puducherry.. Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine. 2026.

    Study-reported incidence of PCS at 12 months after moderate/severe versus mild COVID-19; PCS was defined as at least two of five specified symptoms

    34.4% vs 16.9%

    Study-reported incidence of PCS at 1 month after moderate/severe versus mild COVID-19; PCS was defined as at least two of five specified symptoms

    65.6% vs 24.3%

    Study-reported incidence of PCS at 3 months after moderate/severe versus mild COVID-19; PCS was defined as at least two of five specified symptoms

    37.7% vs 11.0%

    Study-reported incidence of PCS at 6 months after moderate/severe versus mild COVID-19; PCS was defined as at least two of five specified symptoms

    24.4% vs 7.1%

    Citation in Long COVID
  4. STUDY 04Findings added
    TL;DR

    Long COVID was more common among adults with greater activity limits

    The survey estimated Long COVID in 7.59% overall: 4.89% with no activity limits, 9.23% with a little limitation and 14.42% with a lot.

    The survey results were adjusted to represent Scottish adults living in the community. People reported Long COVID themselves. The study looked at one point in time, so it cannot show whether activity limits came before or after Long COVID.

    Study details & original results

    Adebisi, Yusuff Adebayo et al.. Severity of activity limitation and prevalence of long COVID: a nationally representative cross-sectional study of adults in Scotland.. Tropical medicine and health. 2026.

    Survey-weighted prevalence of self-reported long COVID by current activity-limitation severity among community-dwelling Scottish adults; cross-sectional data do not establish temporality.

    7.59% overall; 4.89% with no limitation, 9.23% when limited a little, and 14.42% when limited a lot
    95% CI: 6.91-8.34 overall; 4.21-5.67, 7.70-11.04, and 12.57-16.49, respectively

    Adjusted odds of self-reported long COVID among adults limited a lot versus those with no activity limitation in a cross-sectional analysis.

    aOR 3.26
    95% CI: 2.56-4.15

    Citation in Long COVID
  5. STUDY 05Findings added
    TL;DR

    Pain getting in the way was linked to limits on activities

    26%

    In US adults with Long COVID as defined by the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 26% reported activity limits. More pain getting in the way of activities was linked to higher odds of these limits than no such interference.

    This survey looked at people at one point in time. It cannot show cause or tell whether Long COVID or another condition caused their activity limits.

    Study details & original results

    Axon, David R et al.. Investigating the Variables Associated with Having a Functional Limitation Among Adults with Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Database Study Using the United States Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.. Diseases (Basel, Switzerland). 2026.

    US adults with MEPS-defined long COVID reporting functional limitations; whether the limitation was caused by long COVID or another problem was unknown.

    26%

    Functional limitations with little versus no pain interference among adults with MEPS-defined long COVID in a cross-sectional multivariable analysis; whether the limitation was caused by long COVID or another problem was unknown.

    OR 2.3

    Functional limitations with moderate versus no pain interference among adults with MEPS-defined long COVID in a cross-sectional multivariable analysis; whether the limitation was caused by long COVID or another problem was unknown.

    OR 8.8

    Functional limitations with extreme or quite a bit of pain interference versus no pain among adults with MEPS-defined long COVID in a cross-sectional multivariable analysis; whether the limitation was caused by long COVID or another problem was unknown.

    OR 16.9

    Citation in Long COVID
  6. STUDY 06Findings added
    TL;DR

    Some healthcare workers reported the same lasting moderate or severe symptom

    11.3% (169/1496)

    11.3% (169/1496) reported the same moderate or severe Long COVID symptom at both the 3- and 6-month follow-ups.

    This observational study followed US healthcare personnel after infection at multiple centers between August 2022 and May 2024. People reported their own symptoms. Persistence was judged from those two checks.

    Study details & original results

    Kontowicz, Eric et al.. Characteristics Associated With Persistent Long COVID Symptoms in Healthcare Personnel Infected With SARS-CoV-2 Between August 2022 and May 2024: A Multicenter Cohort Analysis of US Healthcare Personnel.. American journal of industrial medicine. 2026.

    Healthcare personnel reporting the same moderate or severe Long COVID symptom at both 3- and 6-month follow-up

    11.3% (169/1496)

    Citation in Long COVID
  7. STUDY 07Findings added
    TL;DR

    The difference in work difficulty between sexes was uncertain

    The first analysis accounted for other differences. It found more clinically important work difficulty in females than males with lasting symptoms after COVID-19. Taking further differences into account did not confirm the finding.

    This observational study followed an ongoing study group at one center for 10 months. Outcomes were self-reported. No uncertainty interval was reported. The sex difference did not clearly change over time; this does not prove equality.

    Study details & original results

    Sauer, Andrea et al.. Sex-specific patterns of symptom burden, psychological distress, and work productivity impairment in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19: a 10-month dynamic cohort study.. BMC pulmonary medicine. 2026.

    Odds of clinically relevant work-productivity impairment in females versus males in the primary adjusted, Holm-corrected comparison. No CI was reported, and the abstract states that significant sex differences did not remain in additional-adjustment analyses.

    OR 3.0; p=0.020

    Female versus male continuous WPAI-VAS work-productivity impairment score in the primary adjusted, Holm-corrected comparison. No CI was reported, and the abstract states that significant sex differences did not remain in additional-adjustment analyses.

    β=1.3; p=0.031

    No evidence that the reported sex differences changed over the 10-month follow-up; this non-significant interaction should not be interpreted as proof of equivalence.

    all sex-by-time interaction p≥0.41

    Citation in Long COVID
7 of 7 study updates

Dates show when findings were added here, not when papers were published. Study populations and comparisons differ.

WHEN YOU WANT TO GO DEEPER
See all 38 findingsOriginal results, comparisons and study details.
7 of 7 source groupsFindings stay together with their study.
SOURCE 312 findings

Singh, Namrata et al.. Higher risk of Long COVID among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases and immunomodulatory therapy: a retrospective cohort analysis of national US data.. Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.). 2026.

Adjusted risk of Long COVID among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases versus matched patients without autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Added
aHR 1.5695% CI: 1.45-1.67Source [31]

Long COVID occurrence among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases versus matched non-AIRD patients

Added
2.8% vs 1.5%Source [31]
SOURCE 305 findings

Oberhauser, Viola et al.. Routine laboratory data are decoupled from symptom phenotype and prognosis in Long COVID: within-cohort variation is dominated by age.. Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine. 2026.

Routine-analyte clustering showed no convincing structure across two to eight clusters; the weak separation tracked age and disappeared after age residualization.

Added
Silhouette ≤0.09; age 50.5 vs. 38 yearsSource [30]

Among 503 patients assigned to three age-independent symptom phenotypes, no routine analyte remained associated after false-discovery-rate correction, adjustment, or 50 pseudo-class draws.

Added
0 of 89 analytesSource [30]
All 5 findings from this source

Equivalence testing found laboratory values equivalent across symptom phenotypes for most assessed analytes.

Added
86/89 analytes within ±0.5 SD; 63/70 within the reference change valueSource [30]

Routine analytes did not predict the symptom course using the study's nested cross-validated elastic-net model.

Added
AUC 0.46Source [30]

Symptom burden decreased during follow-up in this single-center Long COVID cohort despite the absence of routine laboratory correlates.

Added
Median 4 to 2 organ systems; p=2.5 × 10-19Source [30]
SOURCE 298 findings

Renjana, S R et al.. Incidence and Determinants of Post-Coronavirus Disease Syndrome by Disease Severity: An Ambispective Cohort Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Puducherry.. Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine. 2026.

Study-reported incidence of PCS at 1 month after moderate/severe versus mild COVID-19; PCS was defined as at least two of five specified symptoms

Added
65.6% vs 24.3%Source [29]

Study-reported incidence of PCS at 3 months after moderate/severe versus mild COVID-19; PCS was defined as at least two of five specified symptoms

Added
37.7% vs 11.0%Source [29]
All 8 findings from this source

Study-reported incidence of PCS at 6 months after moderate/severe versus mild COVID-19; PCS was defined as at least two of five specified symptoms

Added
24.4% vs 7.1%Source [29]

Study-reported incidence of PCS at 12 months after moderate/severe versus mild COVID-19; PCS was defined as at least two of five specified symptoms

Added
34.4% vs 16.9%Source [29]

Risk of study-defined PCS at 1 month after moderate/severe versus mild COVID-19; P<0.001

Added
RR 2.7095% CI: 2.31-3.15Source [29]

Risk of study-defined PCS at 3 months after moderate/severe versus mild COVID-19; P<0.001

Added
RR 3.4295% CI: 2.65-4.40Source [29]

Risk of study-defined PCS at 6 months after moderate/severe versus mild COVID-19; P<0.001

Added
RR 3.4695% CI: 2.49-4.80Source [29]

Risk of study-defined PCS at 12 months after moderate/severe versus mild COVID-19; P<0.001

Added
RR 2.0495% CI: 1.65-2.52Source [29]
SOURCE 282 findings

Adebisi, Yusuff Adebayo et al.. Severity of activity limitation and prevalence of long COVID: a nationally representative cross-sectional study of adults in Scotland.. Tropical medicine and health. 2026.

Survey-weighted prevalence of self-reported long COVID by current activity-limitation severity among community-dwelling Scottish adults; cross-sectional data do not establish temporality.

Added
7.59% overall; 4.89% with no limitation, 9.23% when limited a little, and 14.42% when limited a lot95% CI: 6.91-8.34 overall; 4.21-5.67, 7.70-11.04, and 12.57-16.49, respectivelySource [28]

Adjusted odds of self-reported long COVID among adults limited a lot versus those with no activity limitation in a cross-sectional analysis.

Added
aOR 3.2695% CI: 2.56-4.15Source [28]
SOURCE 277 findings

Axon, David R et al.. Investigating the Variables Associated with Having a Functional Limitation Among Adults with Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Database Study Using the United States Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.. Diseases (Basel, Switzerland). 2026.

US adults with MEPS-defined long COVID reporting functional limitations; whether the limitation was caused by long COVID or another problem was unknown.

Added

Functional limitations among non-married versus married adults with MEPS-defined long COVID in a cross-sectional multivariable analysis; causation cannot be inferred.

Added
All 7 findings from this source

Functional limitations among adults with 2-4 versus 0-1 chronic health conditions and MEPS-defined long COVID in a cross-sectional multivariable analysis; causation cannot be inferred.

Added

Functional limitations among publicly insured versus uninsured adults with MEPS-defined long COVID in a cross-sectional multivariable analysis; causation cannot be inferred.

Added

Functional limitations with little versus no pain interference among adults with MEPS-defined long COVID in a cross-sectional multivariable analysis; whether the limitation was caused by long COVID or another problem was unknown.

Added

Functional limitations with moderate versus no pain interference among adults with MEPS-defined long COVID in a cross-sectional multivariable analysis; whether the limitation was caused by long COVID or another problem was unknown.

Added

Functional limitations with extreme or quite a bit of pain interference versus no pain among adults with MEPS-defined long COVID in a cross-sectional multivariable analysis; whether the limitation was caused by long COVID or another problem was unknown.

Added
SOURCE 259 findings

Kontowicz, Eric et al.. Characteristics Associated With Persistent Long COVID Symptoms in Healthcare Personnel Infected With SARS-CoV-2 Between August 2022 and May 2024: A Multicenter Cohort Analysis of US Healthcare Personnel.. American journal of industrial medicine. 2026.

Healthcare personnel reporting the same moderate or severe Long COVID symptom at both 3- and 6-month follow-up

Added
11.3% (169/1496)Source [25]

Persistent Long COVID symptoms among healthcare personnel aged 50-64 versus 18-29 years

Added
aOR 1.9495% CI: 1.09-3.49Source [25]
All 9 findings from this source

Persistent Long COVID symptoms among healthcare personnel aged 65 years or older versus 18-29 years

Added
aOR 3.5295% CI: 1.50-8.25Source [25]

Persistent Long COVID symptoms among female versus male healthcare personnel

Added
aOR 3.0595% CI: 1.58-5.86Source [25]

Persistent Long COVID symptoms among healthcare personnel with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection

Added
aOR 1.7895% CI: 1.14-2.78Source [25]

Persistent Long COVID symptoms among healthcare personnel with at least two underlying health conditions

Added
aOR 2.4995% CI: 1.66-3.73Source [25]

Persistent Long COVID symptoms among physicians versus non-clinical healthcare personnel

Added
aOR 0.2195% CI: 0.05-0.91Source [25]

Persistent Long COVID symptoms among licensed practical and registered nurses versus non-clinical healthcare personnel

Added
aOR 0.5995% CI: 0.37-0.94Source [25]

Persistent Long COVID symptoms among therapists or therapist assistants versus non-clinical healthcare personnel

Added
aOR 0.2795% CI: 0.09-0.77Source [25]
SOURCE 245 findings

Sauer, Andrea et al.. Sex-specific patterns of symptom burden, psychological distress, and work productivity impairment in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19: a 10-month dynamic cohort study.. BMC pulmonary medicine. 2026.

Female versus male continuous WPAI-VAS work-productivity impairment score in the primary adjusted, Holm-corrected comparison. No CI was reported, and the abstract states that significant sex differences did not remain in additional-adjustment analyses.

Added
β=1.3; p=0.031Source [24]

Odds of clinically relevant work-productivity impairment in females versus males in the primary adjusted, Holm-corrected comparison. No CI was reported, and the abstract states that significant sex differences did not remain in additional-adjustment analyses.

Added
OR 3.0; p=0.020Source [24]
All 5 findings from this source

No evidence that the reported sex differences changed over the 10-month follow-up; this non-significant interaction should not be interpreted as proof of equivalence.

Added
all sex-by-time interaction p≥0.41Source [24]

Association of fever during acute COVID-19 with work-productivity impairment among males in a sex-stratified regression; this is not evidence that the association differs by sex.

Added
OR 2.48; p=0.02795% CI: 1.11-5.57Source [24]

Association of dyspnoea during acute COVID-19 with work-productivity impairment among females in a sex-stratified regression. Dyspnoea was the only predictor with a significant formal sex interaction after Holm correction, although the interaction estimate and p-value were not reported.

Added
OR 4.38; p=0.00595% CI: 1.55-12.40Source [24]
Browse the 37 original sourcesThe complete bibliography behind this monitor.
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