A systematic review of the systematic review of post COVID-19 syndrome

Abstract

Background: The declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a global inquiry into the transmission, mortality, risk factors, and management of the disease. Recently, however, attention has shifted toward its long-term consequences. There is a need for a better understanding of the predictors and symptoms of post-COVID syndrome, to ensure appropriate care for patients recovering from COVID-19 beyond the acute phase. Methods: We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane databases, and available data in the PROSPERO databases. We also explored the reference lists of included articles and any systematic reviews identified therein. We searched the keywords "Post Covid", "Post COVID syndrome", "Post- Covid" and "PostCOVID", until July 2021. Results: Of 8167 articles, 13 were included. The syndrome affects several systems with variable prevalence. Fatigue and sleep disturbance is the most common symptom of acute post-COVID syndrome, observed in more than two-thirds of patients, while a reduction in quality of life and general health status was noted in up to 69%. Furthermore, a reduced aerobic and diffusion capacity was seen in 38% of patients up to one month after presumed recovery from infection. Radiologically, in up to 52% of patients, a ground-glass opacity (GGO) was noted beyond three months post-infection. The incidence of new psychiatric illness increased from as early as 14 days after infection and up to three or six months. Hearing impairment or loss, whether sensorineural or conductive, was noted in up to 8.3% of patients, and tinnitus was seen in up to 4.2%. Conclusion: Overall, given the variability in the manifestation of post-COVID syndrome, a multidisciplinary team is required to better serve these patients. We therefore urge the establishment of such teams, encompassing internal medicine, pulmonology, cardiology, and neurocognitive services.

Impact of Rehabilitation on Fatigue in Post-COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The authors concluded that persistent symptoms, isolation feelings, fear and stigma, emotional distress, a fatalistic attitude, and return to life were the key aspects of participants' experience after hospital discharge. Alhumayn et al [26] stated that given the impossibility to correlate acute symptoms with the onset of chronic sequelae and the PCS manifestation variability, a multidisciplinary team is mandatory to depict each patient's needs. Sanchez-Sanchez-Ramirez et al [64], in a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis, intended to explore post-COVID-19 effects on patients' chest computed tomography, lung function, respiratory symptoms, fatigue, functional capacity, HRQoL, and the ability to return to work after three months post-infection through the analysis of 24 papers that presented information on a total of 5323 adults, with a prevalence of fatigue of 38%.…”

“…Moderate or severe fatigue was reported more frequently in female subjects, and no marked difference through ethnicity or body mass index (BMI) was noticed [15]. Alhumayn et al [26], in a relevant systematic review of systematic reviews, pointed out that fatigue might result from many factors, including respiratory muscle weakness, post-viral fatigue syndromes, and possible general deconditioning. The authors also defined how fatigue significantly impacts the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and general health status of post-COVID-19 subjects, with a decrease in up to 69% of patients from 14 days to 3 months post infection and a reduction in the performance of activities of daily living (ADL) [27,28].…”

The effectiveness of respiratory gymnastics and technologies of virtual reality and mechanotherapy in rehabilitation programs for patients with post-COVID syndrome

“…Описательные исследования во время первой волны пандемии в 2020 г. показали, что не менее 10-20% субъектов не полностью выздоровели через три недели [4,5]. Сог ласно опросу, проведенному Управлением национальной ста тистики Великобритании (ONS) в 2021 г., у 65% лиц, перенесших COVID-19, симптомы длились более 12 нед.…”