Journal Article Epublish 9 citations
PubMed: 40260126 DOI: 10.1136/bmjph-2023-000269
Global prevalence of long COVID and its most common symptoms among healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BMJ Public Health 3(1):e000269
Authors: Amani Al-Oraibi, Katherine Woolf, Jatin Naidu, Laura B Nellums, Daniel Pan, Shirley Sze, Carolyn Tarrant, Christopher A Martin, Mayuri Gogoi, Joshua Nazareth, Pip Divall, Brendan Dempsey, Danielle Lamb, Manish Pareek
Affiliations
- Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
- Lifespan and Population Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
- Development Centre for Population Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
- Research Department of Medical Education, University College London, London, UK.
- University College London Medical School, London, UK.
- The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
- Department of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
- Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford Big Data Institute, Oxford, UK.
- NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Leicester, UK.
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK.
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
- Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, UK.
Abstract
Objectives
Long COVID, a condition where symptoms persist after the acute phase of COVID-19, is a significant concern for healthcare workers (HCWs) due to their higher risk of infection. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the prevalence, symptoms and clustering of long COVID in HCWs. We aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and identify the most common symptoms of long COVID among HCWs who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus globally, and investigate any differences by geographical region and other factors.
Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD42022312781).
Data sources
We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO and the grey literature from 31 December 2019 until 18 February 2022.
Eligibility criteria
We included studies reporting primary data on long COVID prevalence and symptoms in adult HCWs who had SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Data extraction and synthesis
Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Meta-analysis was performed for prevalence data of long COVID following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Results
Out of 5737 articles, 28 met the inclusion criteria, with a combined sample size of 6 481 HCWs. 15 articles scored equal to or above the median score for methodological quality. The pooled prevalence of long COVID among HCWs who had SARS-CoV-2 infection was 40% (95% CI: 29% to 51%, I 2: 97.2%; 12 studies), with a mean follow-up period of 22 weeks. The most prevalent symptoms reported were fatigue (35%), neurologic symptoms (25%), loss/decrease of smell and/or taste (25%), myalgia (22%) and shortness of breath (19%).
Conclusion
This review highlights the substantial burden of long COVID among HCWs worldwide. However, limitations in data quality and inconsistent definitions of long COVID impact the generalisability of these findings. To improve future interventions, we recommend enhanced cohort study designs for better characterisation of long COVID prevalence and symptoms in HCWs.
MeSH
Sars-Cov-2, Signs And Symptoms, Covid-19, Prevalence, Health Personnel, Infections, Post-Acute Covid-19 Syndrome