Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38252638›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

Characteristics and burden of acute COVID-19 and long-COVID: Demographic, physical, mental health, and economic perspectives.

Manuel Leitner, Gloria Pötz, Martin Berger, Maria Fellner, Stephan Spat, Marisa Koini

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  6. Virtual Pet-Assisted Therapy to Alleviate Symptoms of Long COVID: A Prospective Pilot Interventional Study.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2025
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  11. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Manuel LeitnerDivision of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.ORCID 0000-0001-5267-1103
Gloria PötzdigitAAL Life GmbH, Graz, Austria.
Martin BergerDivision of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Maria FellnerdigitAAL Life GmbH, Graz, Austria.
Stephan SpatdigitAAL Life GmbH, Graz, Austria.
Marisa KoiniDivision of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-1756-1379

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCOVID-19 infection and its associated consequence, known as long-COVID, lead to a significant burden on the global healthcare system and limitations in people's personal and work lives. This study aims to provide further insight into the impact of acute and ongoing COVID-19 symptoms and investigates the role of patients' gender and vaccination status.

methods416 individuals (73.9% female) between the ages of 16 and 80 years (M = 44.18, SD = 12.90) with self-reported symptoms of long-COVID participated in an online survey conducted between March and May 2022.

results6.0%, 74.3%, and 19.7% of all respondents reported having had an asymptomatic, mild, or severe acute illness, respectively. Out of all participants, 7.8% required hospitalization. The most prevalent symptoms during the acute infection (Mdn = 23.50 symptoms, IQR = 13-39) included fatigue, exhaustion, cough, brain fog, and memory problems. The median long-COVID disease duration was 12.10 months (IQR = 2.8-17.4). Among 64 inquired long-COVID symptoms (Mdn = 17.00 symptoms, IQR = 9-27), participants reported fatigue, exhaustion, memory problems, brain fog, and dyspnea as the most common ongoing symptoms, which were generally experienced as fluctuating and deteriorating after physical or cognitive activity. Common consequences of long-COVID included financial losses (40.5%), changes in the participants' profession (41.0%), stress resistance (87.5%), sexual life (38.1%), and mood (72.1%), as well as breathing difficulties (41.3%), or an increased drug intake (e.g., medicine, alcohol; 44.6%). In addition, vaccinated individuals exhibited a shorter acute illness duration and an earlier onset of long-COVID symptoms. In general, women reported more long-COVID symptoms than men.

conclusionLong-COVID represents a heterogeneous disease and impacts multiple life aspects of those affected. Tailored rehabilitation programs targeting the plurality of physical and mental symptoms are needed.

Indexed as

COVID-19Post-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeAcute DiseaseAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overDemographyDyspneaFatigueFemaleHumansMaleMemory DisordersMental FatigueMental Health

Identifiers

PMID38252638
PMCPMC10802963

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.