The other COVID-19 survivors: Timing, duration, and health impact of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Natalie Lambert, Sarah A El-Azab, Nathan S Ramrakhiani and 12 others
PMID 36181315WHAT IT FOUND
Survivors reported a median of 21 symptoms lasting over 100 days, with fatigue and cognitive issues causing the most work impairment.
Symptoms evolved from flu-like to neurological and systemic issues. Most were not hospitalised, proving severe sequelae occur independently of acute infection severity.
Key findings
01Participants reported a mean of 21 symptoms, with fatigue, headache, and shortness of breath being the most common.
02Symptoms followed a temporal progression, starting with flu-like issues and evolving into neurological, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal manifestations.
03Fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and the relapsing nature of symptoms were the primary drivers of work impairment.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was a convenience sample from online survivor communities, which may over-represent individuals engaged in advocacy. The population was predominantly White, female, and non-hospitalised, limiting generalisability to other demographics or those with severe acute illness. Data relied on patient recall, which can be inaccurate regarding symptom onset and duration. There was no control group of non-survivors or those with other conditions to contextualise the symptom burden.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest, and the research received no specific grant from any funding agency.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the temporal progression of symptoms as a causal mechanism or a diagnostic criterion. The study describes patterns reported by survivors but does not establish why these sequences occur or prove that PASC always follows this specific path.