Symptoms, Risk Factors, And Health Outcomes Of Long COVID In The United Arab Emirates

March 2026 in “ Scientific Reports ”

Rouba Karen Zeidan, Najlaa Al-Bluwi, Ankita Shukla, Hamzah Alzubaidi, Manal Awad, Amal Hussein, Razan Agha, Dana OTHMAN, Fatima M. Jamil Sharif, Alaa Chikh Hussein, Satanay Mahmoud, Anas A. Obaideen, Sheren Younes, Myasar AbuEbaid, Abdul Munhem Obaideen, Zahraa AlHano, Ghada Mohammed, Mohamad Saleh AlHajjaj, Rabih Halwani, Basema Ahmad Saddik

TLDR Nearly half of the patients had Long COVID, leading to health and work issues, especially in high-risk groups.

This study on Long COVID in the UAE involved 533 previously hospitalized COVID-19 patients and found that 49% experienced Long COVID with 43 different symptoms. Risk factors included female sex, multiple initial symptoms, intensive care needs, and having two or more comorbidities. Long COVID was linked to worsened self-rated health and significant work limitations due to physical and emotional difficulties. The study emphasizes the importance of structured post-acute follow-up and targeted support for high-risk groups to reduce the long-term impact of COVID-19.

View this study on nature.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

4 / 4 results

research Post-Covid-19 Syndrome and Quality of Life Impairment in Severe Covid-19 Mexican Patients

3 citations , May 2023 in “Frontiers in Public Health”

Most severe COVID-19 patients in Mexico experienced long-lasting symptoms that worsened their quality of life.

Management of Hair Loss After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: Insight Into the Pathophysiology With Implication for Better Management

research Management of Hair Loss After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: Insight Into the Pathophysiology With Implication for Better Management

7 citations , May 2022 in “The Journal of Dermatology”

Hair loss is a frequent long-term effect of COVID-19, and oral minoxidil is the most common effective treatment.

research More Than 50 Long-Term Effects of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

1250 citations , August 2021 in “Scientific Reports”

COVID-19 leaves 80% of patients with long-term symptoms like fatigue and headaches.

research Sex Differences in COVID-19: The Role of Androgens in Disease Severity and Progression

121 citations , November 2020 in “Endocrine”

Male hormones like testosterone may make COVID-19 worse, and testing for sensitivity to these hormones could help predict how severe a patient's symptoms might be. Treatments that reduce these hormones are being explored.