Limited recovery from post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) at eight months in a prospective cohort

Darley, David Ross; Dore, Gregory John; Byrne, Anthony Luke; Plit, Marshall Lawrence; Brew, Bruce James; Kelleher, Anthony; Matthews, Gail Veronica

Global attention is gradually turning to focus on the problem of prolonged illness following acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), commonly termed ‘Long COVID’ or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). Whilst an increasing number of reports now recognise this condition, accurate characterisation of its prevalence, clinical features and natural history is complicated by choice of denominator population, lack of case definition and marked self-selection bias. Nevertheless, a picture is emerging of a syndrome characterised predominantly by fatigue, dyspnoea, chest tightness, and ‘brain fog’ present in around 10–30% of individuals at 2–3 months post-acute infection and affecting both those with initial severe illness and those in whom acute infection was mild [1–3].