Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Mar;45(3):112-138.
doi: 10.24095/hpcdp.45.3.02.

Global prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective evidence

[Article in English, French]
Mohamed Kadry Taher  1   2 , Talia Salzman  1 , Allyson Banal  1 , Kate Morissette  1 , Francesca R Domingo  1 , Angela M Cheung  3   4 , Curtis L Cooper  5 , Laura Boland  1 , Alexandra M Zuckermann  1 , Muhammad A Mullah  6 , Claudie Laprise  1   7 , Roberto Colonna  1 , Ayan Hashi  1 , Prinon Rahman  1 , Erin Collins  8 , Tricia Corrin  9 , Lisa A Waddell  9 , Jason E Pagaduan  1 , Rukshanda Ahmad  10 , Alejandra P Jaramillo Garcia  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Global prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective evidence

[Article in English, French]
Mohamed Kadry Taher et al. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2025 Mar.

Erratum in

Abstract
in English, French

Introduction: We investigated the prevalence of new or persistent manifestations experienced by COVID-19 survivors at 3 or more months after their initial infection, collectively known as post-COVID-19 condition (PCC).

Methods: We searched four electronic databases and major grey literature resources for prospective studies, systematic reviews, authoritative reports and population surveys. A random-effects meta-analysis pooled the prevalence data of 22 symptoms and outcomes. The GRADE approach was used to assess the certainty of evidence. PROSPERO CRD42021231476.

Results: Of 20 731 identified references, 194 met our inclusion criteria. These studies followed 483 531 individuals with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis over periods of up to 2 years. Most focused on adults, nearly two-thirds were conducted in Europe and 63% were of high or moderate quality. The supplementary search identified 17 systematic reviews, five authoritative reports and four population surveys that reported on PCC prevalence. Our analysis revealed that more than half of COVID-19 survivors experienced one or more symptoms more than a year after their initial infection. The most common symptoms were fatiguedyspneamemory, sleep or concentration disturbances; depressionand pain. Limitation in returning to work was the most common outcome. Prevalence tended to be higher among females, individuals hospitalized during their initial infection and those who experienced severe COVID-19 illness.

Conclusion: PCC presents a significant health burden, affecting some groups more than others. This information will help inform health care system policies and services for people living with PCC and those caring for them.

Introduction: Nous avons exploré, chez les personnes ayant survécu à la COVID-19, la prévalence de manifestations nouvelles ou persistantes trois mois ou plus après leur infection initiale, manifestations rassemblées sous le terme de syndrome post-COVID-19 (SPC).

Méthodologie: Nous avons interrogé quatre bases de données électroniques et les principales sources de littérature grise afin de trouver des études prospectives, des revues systématiques, des rapports faisant autorité et des enquêtes populationnelles. Une méta-analyse à effets aléatoires a permis de mettre en commun les données de prévalence de 22 symptômes et conséquences. L’approche GRADE a été utilisée pour évaluer le degré de certitude des données probantes. Numéro d’enregistrement PROSPERO CRD42021231476.

Résultats: Sur 20 731 documents recensés, 194 répondaient à nos critères d’inclusion. Dans le cadre de ces études, 483 531 personnes ayant reçu un diagnostic confirmé de COVID-19 ont fait l’objet d’un suivi sur des périodes allant jusqu’à 2 ans. La plupart des études portaient sur des adultes, près des deux tiers ont été menées en Europe et 63 % étaient de qualité élevée ou moyenne. Une recherche complémentaire a permis d’obtenir 17 revues systématiques, 5 rapports faisant autorité et 4 enquêtes populationnelles portant sur la prévalence du SPC. Notre analyse a révélé que plus de la moitié des personnes ayant survécu à la COVID-19 ont présenté un ou plusieurs symptômes du SPC plus d’un an après leur infection initiale. Les symptômes répertoriés les plus courants ont été la fatigue, la dyspnée, des troubles de la mémoire, du sommeil ou de la concentration, la dépression et la douleur. Les limitations en matière de retour au travail ont constitué la conséquence la plus courante. La prévalence s’est révélée généralement plus élevée chez les femmes, les personnes hospitalisées au cours de leur infection initiale et les personnes ayant présenté une forme grave de la COVID-19.

Conclusion: Le SPC représente un lourd fardeau pour la santé, et certains groupes sont plus touchés que d’autres. Ces renseignements aideront à orienter les politiques et les services du système de soins de santé destinés aux personnes atteintes du SPC et à leurs proches.

Keywords: COVID-19 Long-Hauler; COVID-19 recovery; Long COVID; PASC; PCC; longterm effects of COVID-19; post-COVID condition; post-acute sequelae of COVID-19; prevalence; prospective studies; systematic review.

Plain language summary

We searched for prospective studies of the prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) published up to 15 July 2022 and systematic reviews, authoritative reports and population surveys published up to 8 December 2023. Through group and subgroup analyses, pooled prevalence data from 483 531 adults and children with new or persistent symptoms at least 3 months after their confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. More than 50% of COVID-19 survivors experienced at least one PCC symptom up to 2 years after their initial infection. The most common symptoms were dyspnea, fatigue, pain and depression, and the most common outcome was not returning to work.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

None to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. PRISMA 2020 flow diagram of included studies
Figure 2a
Figure 2a. Pooled prevalence estimates of PCC symptoms at 12–26 weeks after confirmed COVID-19
Figure 2b
Figure 2b. Pooled prevalence estimates of PCC outcomes at 12–26 weeks after confirmed COVID-19
Figure 3a
Figure 3a. Pooled prevalence estimates of PCC symptoms at 27–39 weeks after confirmed COVID-19
Figure 3b
Figure 3b. Pooled prevalence estimates of PCC outcomes at 27–39 weeks after confirmed COVID-19
Figure 4a
Figure 4a. Pooled prevalence estimates of PCC symptoms at 40–52 weeks after confirmed COVID-19
Figure 4b
Figure 4b. Pooled prevalence estimates of PCC outcomes at 40–52 weeks after confirmed COVID-19
Figure 5a
Figure 5a. Pooled prevalence estimates of PCC symptoms at more than 1 year after confirmed COVID-19
Figure 5b
Figure 5b. Pooled prevalence estimates of PCC outcomes at more than 1 year after confirmed COVID-19
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. WHO. Geneva(CH): Disease outbreak news: Pneumonia of unknown cause – China [Internet] Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2020-DON229.
    1. World Health Organization. Geneva(CH): WHO COVID-19 dashboard [Internet] Available from: https://covid19.who.int/
    1. Soriano J, Murthy S, Marshall J, Relan P, Diaz J, et al. A clinical case definition of post-COVID-19 condition by a Delphi consensus. Lancet Infect Dis. 2022:e102–7. - PMC - PubMed
    1. WHO. Geneva(CH): A clinical case definition of post COVID-19 condition by a Delphi consensus [Internet] Available from: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/345824/WHO-2019-nCoV-Post-CO.... - PMC - PubMed
    1. WHO. Geneva(CH): A clinical case definition for post COVID-19 condition in children and adolescents by expert consensus [Internet] Available from: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/366126/WHO-2019-nCoV-Post-CO....