A Systematic Literature Review to Identify Risk Factors and Symptoms of Long COVID-19 in Adult Indian Patients
Author(s)
Aachal Shinde, M.Tech.1, Ayushman Ghosh, Ph.D.1, Divya Sussana Patil, Ph.D.2, Elstin Anbu Raj, M.Pharm.2, Edlin Glane Mathias, Ph.D.2, Tushar Pyne, Ph.D.1.
1Indence Health, Kolkata, India, 2Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
1Indence Health, Kolkata, India, 2Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
OBJECTIVES: According to NICE guidelines, Long COVID-19 (LC) includes both ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 syndrome that continues to develop signs and symptoms after the acute phase of COVID-19 infection (≥4 weeks). This systematic literature review (SLR) aims to evaluate the risk factors and symptoms associated with LC in the Indian population.
METHODS: This SLR was conducted as per the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The protocol was developed and registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024596439). Real-world studies examining symptoms and risk factors of LC published between 2020-2024 were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases. Studies assessing risk factors were included and were ranked according to the frequency of occurrence of the identified risk factors.
RESULTS: A total of 15 studies were included from 3,991 initially retrieved hits, involving 6,945 patients. Severe COVID-19 emerged as a major risk factor for LC in seven studies, followed by female gender (six studies), steroid usage (six studies), and older age (four studies). Longer hospital stays, ICU admissions, and oxygen therapy also emerged as significant predictors of LC, mentioned in two to four studies. Fatigue was the most prevalent symptom of LC in all 15 studies, followed by dyspnoea (nine studies), and cough (eight studies). Myalgia and headache were also common symptoms of LC. Interestingly, 10 studies reported on hypertension and diabetes as the most common comorbidities and six studies reported on vaccination status.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe COVID-19 and female gender were at the highest risk of developing LC, with fatigue being the most common symptom. Despite these findings, the evidence on certain factors, such as the role of vaccination, remains inconclusive. Further research is needed to address these gaps and explore the long-term effects of LC in the Indian population.
METHODS: This SLR was conducted as per the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The protocol was developed and registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024596439). Real-world studies examining symptoms and risk factors of LC published between 2020-2024 were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases. Studies assessing risk factors were included and were ranked according to the frequency of occurrence of the identified risk factors.
RESULTS: A total of 15 studies were included from 3,991 initially retrieved hits, involving 6,945 patients. Severe COVID-19 emerged as a major risk factor for LC in seven studies, followed by female gender (six studies), steroid usage (six studies), and older age (four studies). Longer hospital stays, ICU admissions, and oxygen therapy also emerged as significant predictors of LC, mentioned in two to four studies. Fatigue was the most prevalent symptom of LC in all 15 studies, followed by dyspnoea (nine studies), and cough (eight studies). Myalgia and headache were also common symptoms of LC. Interestingly, 10 studies reported on hypertension and diabetes as the most common comorbidities and six studies reported on vaccination status.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe COVID-19 and female gender were at the highest risk of developing LC, with fatigue being the most common symptom. Despite these findings, the evidence on certain factors, such as the role of vaccination, remains inconclusive. Further research is needed to address these gaps and explore the long-term effects of LC in the Indian population.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EPH10
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Study Approaches
Disease
Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory)