What is
Long COVID?
Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as Long COVID.
Up to 400 million
people worldwide are affected with Long COVID1
$1 trillion of annual economic impact
About 1% of the global economy1
Long COVID affects
men, women, and
children too.
Long COVID: Millions are still sick
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) have defined Long COVID as “an infection-associated chronic condition (IACC) that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least 3 months as a continuous, relapsing and remitting, or progressive disease state that affects one or more organ systems”.
Long COVID can present with a variety of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. It can impact one or more systems, including the immune, cardiovascular, and neurological systems.
Millions are still sick, and they are waiting for answers.
Jump to
Symptoms
Long COVID can include more than 200 symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms, like persistent fatigue, post-exertional malaise, brain fog, and sleep disturbance, are similar to those reported by people with ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) and other multi-system chronic complex diseases (msCCD).
Patients with Long COVID may also present with single or multiple symptoms of varying severity.
General Symptoms
Tiredness or fatigue
Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort
Fever
Neurological Symptoms
Difficulty thinking or concentrating
Headache
Sleep problems
Lightheadedness
Pins-and-needles feelings
Change in smell or taste
Depression or anxiety
Digestive Symptoms
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Respiratory and Heart Symptoms
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
Cough
Chest pain
Dysautonomia
Fast-beating or pounding heart
Other Symptoms
Joint or muscle pain
Rash
Changes in menstrual cycles
And more...
Diagnosis
Symptoms of Long COVID are often unexplained by routine testing, which can include blood tests, chest x-rays, and electrocardiograms. As a result, they may be misunderstood by healthcare providers, which causes a delay in diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
There is no specific test to diagnose Long COVID, so doctors usually consider a diagnosis of Long COVID based on health history, current symptoms, and a health examination. Based on the 2024 NASEM definition of Long COVID, diagnosis should especially take into account the onset and duration of symptoms.
OMF research into Long COVID
Solely funded by private donors
We knew this was coming! Back at the beginning of the pandemic, OMF secured a $1 million grant to launch an international study following those infected with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) as they either return to health or remain with symptoms months after being infected, now known as Long COVID. The purpose was to learn what is different in people who stay ill. This project is being conducted across the globe at our OMF-supported Collaborative Research Centers, spearheaded by some of the world’s top researchers and ME/CFS experts. Additional funds are needed to continue this critical study.
As the pandemic has continued, OMF has also expanded its portfolio of research investigating Long COVID:
- Characterizing non-restorative sleep in post-viral disease to advance intervention innovations
- Systems biology approaches to uncovering disease mechanism and drug repurposing for Long COVID
- Multi-omic approaches to solve post-acute COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 syndrome
We all need this research now. We need your help today so that millions can return to good health tomorrow.
Download the
ME/CFS and Long COVID fact sheet
Perfect for printing and sharing with your doctor or personal community.
Support OMF
Support Open Medicine Foundation’s quest to find effective treatments and diagnostic tests for the millions of people affected by these devastating diseases!
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Information about Long COVID provided from:
- Al-Aly, Z., et al. (2024). Long COVID science, research and policy. Nature Medicine, 30, 2148-2164. doi:10.1038/s41591-024-03173-6
- CDC: Center for Disease Control
Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. The information provided on this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
