Risk of post-acute symptoms and conditions after SARS-CoV-2 compared with other respiratory viral infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Tomaz Fonseca Pinto, Andrea Santoro, Ana Laura Grossi de Oliveira et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis compared persistent symptoms and conditions in adults after SARS-CoV-2 infection with those following other acute respiratory viral infections. Of 9371 records screened, 22 cohort studies were included and 14 contributed to pooled analyses. SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with increased risks of pulmonary embolism, abnormal breathing, fatigue, hemorrhagic stroke, memory loss or brain fog, and palpitations; heart rate abnormalities showed borderline significance. For most other outcomes, pooled estimates did not show significantly higher risks than after other respiratory viral infections.
Key findings
- Across 14 studies in the meta-analysis, increased risks after SARS-CoV-2 were reported for pulmonary embolism, abnormal breathing, fatigue, hemorrhagic stroke, memory loss or brain fog, and palpitations.
- Heart rate abnormalities showed borderline significance after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- For most other assessed outcomes, pooled estimates did not indicate significantly higher risks than after other acute respiratory viral infections.
Why it matters
The findings place post-COVID-19 condition within a broader spectrum of post-acute infection syndromes, rather than implying that persistent symptoms occur only after SARS-CoV-2. Recognizing similar problems after other respiratory viral infections may help inform assessment and research into shared post-viral processes, while the outcomes with higher reported risks may warrant further investigation.
What to keep in mind
The review included cohort studies, and the abstract provides no pooled effect sizes or details on study heterogeneity; most outcomes did not show significantly higher risks than after comparator infections.