A proposed approach to pulmonary long COVID: a viewpoint
Firoozeh V. Gerayeli, Rachel L. Eddy, Don D. Sin
Abstract
Long COVID (also known as “post-acute sequelae of COVID-19”) is a multi-system disorder that follows an acute bout of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection [1]. Although its exact prevalence is unknown, it is estimated to affect approximately 10% of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals, though in reality the percentage is likely much higher owing to under-reporting of cases [1]. The prevalence is elevated in patients who have had acute SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia requiring hospitalization and lower in those who have been previously vaccinated or were infected with the Omicron variant [1]. In approximately 6% of the cases of long COVID, pulmonary symptoms such as dyspnea, cough and wheeziness are prominent, leading to considerable disability and morbidity [2, 3]. While it is attractive to view long COVID as one disease, it is likely a very complex, heterogeneous disorder, with multiple different phenotypes, each driven by a unique set of molecules and pathways [1].