Estimated global proportions of long-COVID-19

Editor's Note

This study by the Global Burden of Disease Long COVID Collaborators estimates that the proportion of patients with at least one of three long-COVID-19 symptoms (persistent fatigue with bodily pain or mood swings, cognitive problems, or ongoing respiratory problems) 3 months after COVID-19 infection is 6.2%.

Analyzing 54 studies and two medical record databases that include 1.2 million individuals from 22 countries who had COVID-19, the modeled estimate of the proportion of those with at least one symptom (6.2%) included:

• 3.7% with ongoing respiratory problems
• 3.2% with persistent fatigue with bodily pain or mood swings
•  2.2% with cognitive problems.

Symptoms were more common in women aged 20 years or older (10.6%) than men (5.4%).

The estimated mean long-COVID-19 duration was 9 months for hospitalized patients and 4 months for nonhospitalized patients. Among those with symptoms at 3 months, 15.1% continued to experience symptoms at 1 year.

Quantifiying the number of individuals with long-COVID-19 may help policy makers ensure these patients have adequate access to services that will help them recover, return to work or school, and restore their mental health and social life, the researchers say.