Long COVID: Clinical Characteristics, Proposed Pathogenesis and Potential Therapeutic Targets

The document provides a comprehensive review of long COVID, a condition affecting up to 20% of COVID-19 survivors, characterized by persistent symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and respiratory issues. It highlights the complexity of long COVID due to its heterogeneous nature and diverse symptoms, with 44% of sufferers unable to return to work. Various phenotypes, including cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuropsychiatric clusters, have been identified. Hair loss, particularly telogen effluvium, is reported in 22% of hospitalized individuals. Proposed mechanisms include immune dysregulation, viral persistence, and microbiome alterations. The document underscores the need for further research to understand these mechanisms and develop effective treatments, noting ongoing trials and the potential benefits of vaccination and lifestyle factors in reducing long COVID risk.