Risk Factors Associated with Long COVID-19: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Studying the consequences of coronavirus infections caused by the SARS-CoV- 2 virus has become crucial in light of its widespread occurrence in society, and the frequent observation of persistent symptoms and health impairments following recovery from the acute phase of the illness. The pandemic has brought about a new chronic, debilitating condition known as long COVID, which deserves serious attention from scientific and medical communities. Currently, we have conflicting knowledge about the factors that may increase the risk of developing such a debilitating condition. The aim of this review was to assess prognostic risk factors for the development of post-COVID-19 conditions. We conducted a systematic search in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CyberLeninka, and the eLibrary electronic library for reports on post-COVID-19 conditions up to April 2024. A total of 52 full-text studies meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed from both Russian and international sources. The resulting review paper presents a comprehensive overview of recent studies aimed at examining factors preceding COVID-19 infection (gender, age, comorbidities, and others), factors related to COVID-19 infection (severity of acute phase, influence of biomarkers), and the impact of vaccinations on longterm consequences. Much remains unclear regarding long COVID and its risk factors due to conflicting data, possibly caused by the variety of symptoms and complex pathophysiology, including long-term organ damage and unresolved inflammatory processes. This review underscores the high prevalence of post-COVID conditions and the ambiguity in identifying risk factors, necessitating further research for effective management of these conditions.