Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40254579›Full record

ArticleAnnals of clinical microbiology and antimicrobials2025

Long COVID clinical evaluation, research and impact on society: a global expert consensus.

Andrew G Ewing, David Joffe, Svetlana Blitshteyn, Anna E S Brooks, Julien Wist, Yaneer Bar-Yam, Stephane Bilodeau, Jennifer Curtin, Rae Duncan, Mark Faghy and 18 more

Erratum issuedAbstract readConsensus Statement
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of clinical microbiology and antimicrobials, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 23 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
23citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–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

23 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Assessment and management of post-COVID-19 pulmonary complications: a rapid review.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2026
    Review
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Perspectives of Individuals With Long COVID on Virtual Physical Rehabilitation: A Qualitative Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation · 2025
    Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Review
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

28 authors.

Andrew G EwingDepartment of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. Andrewe@chem.gu.se.
David JoffeWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
Svetlana BlitshteynWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
Anna E S BrooksWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
Julien WistAustralian National Phenome Centre, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia.
Yaneer Bar-YamWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
Stephane BilodeauWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
Jennifer CurtinWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
Rae DuncanWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
Mark FaghyWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
Leo GallandWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
Etheresia PretoriusWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
Spela SalamonWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
Danilo BuonsensoDepartment of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Claire HastieFounding Member, Long Covid Support, London, UK.
Binita KaneWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
M Asad KhanWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
Amos LalDivision of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Dennis LauThe University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Raina MacIntyreBiosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Sammie McFarlandCEO & Founder Long Covid Kids, London, UK.
Daniel MunblitImperial College and King's College, London, UK.
Jeremy NicholsonAustralian National Phenome Centre, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.
Hanna M OllilaInstitute for Molecular Medicine Finland, FIMM, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
David PutrinoWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
Alberto RosarioWorld Health Network Long Covid Expert Advisory Group, Cambridge, USA, MA.
Timothy TanConsultant Cardiologist, Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals, Sydney, Australia.
Long COVID consensus expert panel (Table S1)

Funding

Long COVID as a putative subtype of chronic fatigue syndromeR01AI170850 · NIAID · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI Richa Saxena · 2022 to 2026
$2.2M
NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI170850
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLong COVID is a complex, heterogeneous syndrome affecting over four hundred million people globally. There are few recommendations, and no formal training exists for medical professionals to assist with clinical evaluation and management of patients with Long COVID. More research into the pathology, cellular, and molecular mechanisms of Long COVID, and treatments is needed. The goal of this work is to disseminate essential information about Long COVID and recommendations about definition, diagnosis, treatment, research and social issues to physicians, researchers, and policy makers to address this escalating global health crisis.

methodsA 3-round modified Delphi consensus methodology was distributed internationally to 179 healthcare professionals, researchers, and persons with lived experience of Long COVID in 28 countries. Statements were combined into specific areas: definition, diagnosis, treatment, research, and society.

resultsThe survey resulted in 187 comprehensive statements reaching consensus with the strongest areas being diagnosis and clinical assessment, and general research. We establish conditions for diagnosis of different subgroups within the Long COVID umbrella. Clear consensus was reached that the impacts of COVID-19 infection on children should be a research priority, and additionally on the need to determine the effects of Long COVID on societies and economies. The consensus on COVID and Long COVID is that it affects the nervous system and other organs and is not likely to be observed with initial symptoms. We note, biomarkers are critically needed to address these issues.

conclusionsThis work forms initial guidance to address the spectrum of Long COVID as a disease and reinforces the need for translational research and large-scale treatment trials for treatment protocols.

Indexed as

COVID-19ChildDelphi TechniqueGlobal HealthHumansPost-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeSARS-CoV-2DefinitionDiagnosisLong COVIDResearchSocietiesTreatment

Identifiers

PMID40254579
PMCPMC12010688

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.