Long coronavirus disease (COVID), also known as the post-acute sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (PASC), is a significant concern since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it still manifests in individuals with persistent symptoms and complications beyond the acute phase of infection. Defining this disease is challenging, as it manifests as a spectrum of symptoms varying in severity among individuals who have previously tested positive for COVID-19. Long COVID is more prevalent in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and presents in various ways, ranging from pulmonary to extrapulmonary symptoms. This literature review examines the current body of research on long COVID with a focus on its effects on the cardiovascular, hematological, respiratory, renal, and neurological systems with systematically analyzed, peer-reviewed articles retrieved from the PubMed database. There have been several proposed pathophysiological mechanisms by which severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 affects the aforementioned organ systems; however, research on the definite mechanisms is lacking, especially when considering the management of long COVID in the perioperative setting. The impact of post-COVID sequelae necessitates individualized management strategies tailored to each symptomatic profile, particularly in patients with comorbidities. The COVID-19 pandemic affected millions of people and had a profound impact on those who developed PASC, lowering their quality of life and increasing potential surgical risks. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the specific risk factors for long COVID and who is most susceptible to it. Further research is required to fill these gaps and explore potential avenues for preventing PASC.

Citations

• Lingering echoes of SARS-CoV-2: mechanistic insights and management of long COVID syndrome
  Jagat Pal Yadav, Seema Yadav, Nimesh Kumar Dubey, Indra Pal Yadav, Prateek Pathak, Amita Verma
  Inflammopharmacology.2026; 34(1): 17.     CrossRef
• Obesity and Nutritional Vulnerability in long COVID: A Neuroinflammatory and Cognitive Perspective
  Cigdem Bozkir, Tugce Kartal, Busra Hokelek
  Current Nutrition Reports.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Experiences of healthcare providers with long COVID in India using a qualitative approach
  Mohd Shannawaz, Nikita Shah, Isha Rathi, Shazina Saeed
  Discover Public Health.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Cognitive impairment in long-COVID: frequency, trajectories and risk factors in a cohort study from Italy
  Marco Floridia, Liliana Elena Weimer, Paolo Bonfanti, Aldo Lo Forte, Viola Cogliandro, Valeria Bottaro, Paola Andreozzi, Silvia Zucco, Guido Vagheggini, Graziano Onder
  Neurological Sciences.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Reflecting on progress and challenges: the Korean Journal of Family Medicine in 2024
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(2): 55.     CrossRef
• The Development and Initial Validation of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Long COVID (MSAS-LC): A Promising Tool for Measuring Long COVID
  Sadie B. Sommer, Mary S. Dietrich, Julie V. Barroso
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2025; 22(5): 728.     CrossRef
• Regulatory systems and scientific evidence for health functional foods in Korea
  Seung-Won Oh
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2025; 68(5): 311.     CrossRef
• A pan-beta-coronavirus vaccine bearing conserved and asymptomatic B- and T-cell epitopes protects against highly pathogenic Delta and highly transmissible Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants
  Hawa Vahed, Swayam Prakash, Afshana Quadiri, Izabela Coimbra Ibraim, Etinosa Omorogieva, Swena Patel, Jimmy Tadros, Emma Jane Liao, Lauren Lau, Aziz A. Chentoufi, Anthony B. Nesburn, Baruch D. Kuppermann, Jeffrey B. Ulmer, Daniel Gil, Lbachir BenMohamed
  Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• MOLECULAR AND EPIGENETIC MECHANISMS OF COVID-19-RELATED CARDIOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS: MULTIOMICS BIOMARKERS AND PRECISION MEDICINE APPROACHES
  KETAKI DAWALE, PANKAJ JAMBHOLKAR, VASANT WAGH
  International Journal of Applied Pharmaceutics.2025; : 130.     CrossRef
• Comprehensive Health Strategies for the Post-pandemic Era: Integrating Physical Health, Psychological Resilience, Lifestyle Choices, and Occupational Well-being
  Su Hwan Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(6): 303.     CrossRef