Physical and mental health complications post-COVID-19: Scoping review
Open accessAbstract
Objective Several long-lasting health complications have been reported in previous coronavirus infections. Therefore, the aim of this study was to review studies that evaluated physical and mental health problems post-COVID-19.Methods Articles for inclusion in this scoping review were identified by searching the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases for items dated from 1 January to 7 November 2020. Observational studies evaluating physical health (musculoskeletal symptoms, functional status) or mental health status with a follow-up period longer than 1 month after discharge or after the onset of symptoms were included.Results This scoping review included 34 studies with follow-up periods of up to 3 months post-COVID-19. The most commonly reported physical health problems were fatigue (range 28% to 87%), pain (myalgia 4.5% to 36%), arthralgia (6.0% to 27%), reduced physical capacity (six-minute walking test range 180 to 561 m), and declines in physical role functioning, usual care and daily activities (reduced in 15% to 54% of patients). Common mental health problems were anxiety (range 6.5% to 63%), depression (4% to 31%) and post-traumatic stress disorder (12.1% to 46.9%). Greater fatigue, pain, anxiety and depression were reported in female patients and individuals admitted to intensive care. An overall lower quality of life was seen up to 3 months post-COVID-19.Conclusions This review highlights the presence of several physical and mental health problems up to 3 months post-COVID-19. The findings point to the need for comprehensive evaluation and rehabilitation post-COVID-19 to promote quality of life.
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Mental health symptoms are common in reports of a post-covid syndrome.
“Mental health symptoms are common in reports of a post-covid syndrome (4, 6).”
Post-covid syndrome is characterized by several symptoms affecting quality of life.
“This is typically referred to as a post-covid syndrome, characterized by several symptoms affecting quality of life (1–5).”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, reported rates of depression in general populations ranged from 14.6% to 48.3%.
“A growing body of evidence has demonstrated the clinical effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, including higher rates of depression (14.6-48.3%), anxiety (6.3-50.9%), and stress (8.1-81.9%) [2,5,6].”
From Depression, anxiety, and stress in Korean general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2022) · cites this paper as [6]
The Results section on mental health status reports depression prevalence of 4%–31% among COVID-19 survivors more than one month after infection, not rates in general populations during the pandemic. A search for 14.6%–48.3% and general-population depression found no passage in our copy addressing those rates. (LLM, conf=0.75)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, reported rates of anxiety in general populations ranged from 6.3% to 50.9%.
“A growing body of evidence has demonstrated the clinical effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, including higher rates of depression (14.6-48.3%), anxiety (6.3-50.9%), and stress (8.1-81.9%) [2,5,6].”
From Depression, anxiety, and stress in Korean general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2022) · cites this paper as [6]
The Results (‘Mental health status’; page not provided) report anxiety prevalence of 6.5%–63% among people after COVID-19, not 6.3%–50.9% in general populations during the pandemic. Searches for the claimed range and general-population anxiety prevalence found no passage addressing that claim; the survivor-specific range does not contradict a rate for a different population. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, reported rates of stress in general populations ranged from 8.1% to 81.9%.
“A growing body of evidence has demonstrated the clinical effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, including higher rates of depression (14.6-48.3%), anxiety (6.3-50.9%), and stress (8.1-81.9%) [2,5,6].”
From Depression, anxiety, and stress in Korean general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2022) · cites this paper as [6]
The Results (Mental health status; page unavailable) give prevalence ranges for anxiety, depression and PTSD in COVID-19 survivors, not stress in general populations. Searches for “8.1% to 81.9%” and general-population stress prevalence found no passage reporting the claimed range. (LLM, conf=0.76)
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References 93 · Cited by 334
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- [16]Daher A. Balfanz P. Cornelissen C. Müller A. Bergs I. Marx N. Follow up of patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease sequelae Respir Med. 174 2020 106 112 PMC7573668 33120193
- [63]Hickie I. Davenport T. Wakefield D. Vollmer-Conna U. Cameron B. Vernon S.D. Post-infective and chronic fatigue syndromes precipitated by viral and non-viral pathogens: prospective cohort study BMJ. 333 2006 575 10.1007/s11065-005-3588-2 16950834 PMC1569956 · DOI
- Authors
- Shanbehzadeh, S., Tavahomi, M., Zanjari, N., Ebrahimi-Takamjani, I., & Amiri-arimi, S.
- Affiliations
- Iran University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (IR)
- Corresponding author
- Tavahomi, Mahnaz
- Venue
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-08
- Volume
- 147
- Pages
- 110525
- ISSN
- 0022-3999 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC8133797
- OpenAlex
- W3164437558
- Cited by
- 334
- References
- 93
- Citations by year
- 2026: 33 · 2025: 43 · 2024: 70 · 2023: 101 · 2022: 73 · 2021: 13
- FWCI
- 8.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Keywords
- long COVID, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, joint pain, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, quality of life, intensive care unit admission, sex differences, rehabilitation
- MeSH terms
- COVID-19, Humans, Mental Health, Quality of Life
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