Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40260126›Full record

ArticleBMJ public health2025

Global prevalence of long COVID and its most common symptoms among healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Amani Al-Oraibi, Katherine Woolf, Jatin Naidu, Laura B Nellums, Daniel Pan, Shirley Sze, Carolyn Tarrant, Christopher A Martin, Mayuri Gogoi, Joshua Nazareth and 4 more

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In one paragraph

Article in BMJ public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing 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

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Psychometric validation of a cognition and social participation bolt-on for the EQ-5D-5L in SARS-CoV-2 infected German healthcare workers.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
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

14 authors.

Amani Al-OraibiRespiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-1502-2627
Katherine WoolfResearch Department of Medical Education, University College London, London, UK.
Jatin NaiduUniversity College London Medical School, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-9849-1976
Laura B NellumsThe University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Daniel PanDepartment of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Shirley SzeDevelopment Centre for Population Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Carolyn TarrantDepartment of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Christopher A MartinDevelopment Centre for Population Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Mayuri GogoiDevelopment Centre for Population Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Joshua NazarethDevelopment Centre for Population Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Pip DivallUniversity Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
Brendan DempseyDepartment of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, UK.
Danielle LambDepartment of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, UK.
Manish PareekDevelopment Centre for Population Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: Long COVID, a condition where symptoms persist after the acute phase of COVID-19, is a significant concern for healthcare workers (HCWs) due to their higher risk of infection. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the prevalence, symptoms and clustering of long COVID in HCWs. We aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and identify the most common symptoms of long COVID among HCWs who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus globally, and investigate any differences by geographical region and other factors. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD42022312781). Data sources: We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO and the grey literature from 31 December 2019 until 18 February 2022. Eligibility criteria: We included studies reporting primary data on long COVID prevalence and symptoms in adult HCWs who had SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data extraction and synthesis: Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Meta-analysis was performed for prevalence data of long COVID following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: Out of 5737 articles, 28 met the inclusion criteria, with a combined sample size of 6 481 HCWs. 15 articles scored equal to or above the median score for methodological quality. The pooled prevalence of long COVID among HCWs who had SARS-CoV-2 infection was 40% (95% CI: 29% to 51%, I Conclusion: This review highlights the substantial burden of long COVID among HCWs worldwide. However, limitations in data quality and inconsistent definitions of long COVID impact the generalisability of these findings. To improve future interventions, we recommend enhanced cohort study designs for better characterisation of long COVID prevalence and symptoms in HCWs.

Indexed as

COVID-19Public HealthSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID40260126
PMCPMC12010341

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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.