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Peer-reviewedCC BYHealth science reports

Persistent COVID‐19 Symptoms in General Population and Healthcare Workers: Systematic Review With Meta‐Analysis

  • Eduarda Boufleuer1,2
  • Tainara Wink Vieira1,3
  • Victória Tiyoko Moraes Sakamoto1,3
  • Fernando Anschau3,4
  • Juliana Petri Tavares1
  • Daiane Dal Pai1
4 affiliations
  1. 1Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre Brazil
  2. 2State Health Department of Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre Brazil
  3. 3Grupo Hospitalar Conceição Porto Alegre Brazil
  4. 4Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre Brazil
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Abstract

Background and Aims: COVID‐19 can cause persistent symptoms that continue after the infection, condition known as long COVID. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of persistent signs and symptoms of COVID‐19 in individuals with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and among healthcare workers.

Methods: This is a systematic review with meta‐analysis guided by PRISMA and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023460632). Cohort studies with a minimum follow‐up of 12 weeks after COVID‐19 infection were included. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Scielo, and LILACS/BVS databases and gray literature, in November 2023. Rayyan was used for article selection, and pooled prevalence meta‐analysis for each symptom was conducted in R. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale.

Results: A total of 2,456 studies were identified, with 59 articles included in the systematic review and 58 in the meta‐analysis, comprising 196,863 participants. The symptoms with the highest pooled prevalence (95% CI) were fatigue (0.29[0.24–0.36], 95% PI: 0.05–0.78) and dyspnea (0.16[0.12–0.22], 95% PI: 0.01–0.71).

Conclusion: Healthcare workers showed lower prevalence rates for some persistent symptoms (fatigue, dyspnea, cough, taste changes, and gastrointestinal symptoms) than the general population. Most studies were of fair quality. Despite the findings of a high prevalence of persistent symptoms, high heterogeneity remained a key limitation.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{boufleuer2026persistent,
  title = {{Persistent COVID‐19 Symptoms in General Population and Healthcare Workers: Systematic Review With Meta‐Analysis}},
  author = {Eduarda Boufleuer and Tainara Wink Vieira and Victória Tiyoko Moraes Sakamoto and Fernando Anschau and Juliana Petri Tavares and Daiane Dal Pai},
  journal = {Health science reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1002/hsr2.73456},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13720233},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Persistent COVID‐19 Symptoms in General Population and Healthcare Workers: Systematic Review With Meta‐Analysis
AU  - Eduarda Boufleuer
AU  - Tainara Wink Vieira
AU  - Victória Tiyoko Moraes Sakamoto
AU  - Fernando Anschau
AU  - Juliana Petri Tavares
AU  - Daiane Dal Pai
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/29
JO  - Health science reports
DO  - 10.1002/hsr2.73456
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13720233
AB  - Background and Aims: COVID‐19 can cause persistent symptoms that continue after the infection, condition known as long COVID. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of persistent signs and symptoms of COVID‐19 in individuals with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and among healthcare workers.  Methods: This is a systematic review with meta‐analysis guided by PRISMA and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023460632). Cohort studies with a minimum follow‐up of 12 weeks after COVID‐19 infection were included. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Scielo, and LILACS/BVS databases and gray literature, in November 2023. Rayyan was used for article selection, and pooled prevalence meta‐analysis for each symptom was conducted in R. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale.  Results: A total of 2,456 studies were identified, with 59 articles included in the systematic review and 58 in the meta‐analysis, comprising 196,863 participants. The symptoms with the highest pooled prevalence (95% CI) were fatigue (0.29[0.24–0.36], 95% PI: 0.05–0.78) and dyspnea (0.16[0.12–0.22], 95% PI: 0.01–0.71).  Conclusion: Healthcare workers showed lower prevalence rates for some persistent symptoms (fatigue, dyspnea, cough, taste changes, and gastrointestinal symptoms) than the general population. Most studies were of fair quality. Despite the findings of a high prevalence of persistent symptoms, high heterogeneity remained a key limitation.
SN  - 2398-8835
ER  -