Pain in Long COVID: A scoping review of clinical characteristics and patterns of manifestation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.7836.4778Keywords:
COVID-19; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Chronic Pain; Public HealthAbstract
Objective: to map the available scientific evidence on the clinical characteristics and patterns of pain manifestation (location, frequency, duration, intensity, and quality) in individuals with Long COVID. Method: a scoping review of publications from March 2020 to June 2024, indexed across four databases. Study selection was conducted by two independent, blinded reviewers. Data were extracted using a standardized instrument and analyzed descriptively. Results: nineteen studies were included, indicating that pain affects individuals across all age groups, with higher prevalence among women, primarily involving the head, neck, shoulder, lower back, and hip. Pain frequency ranged from daily to monthly episodes, with duration exceeding one year in some cases. Intensity varied from mild to severe, and pain characteristics were diverse, with descriptors including burning, pressure, colicky, and throbbing pain. Conclusion: the clinical characteristics and patterns of pain manifestation in Long COVID are diverse. However, there is a paucity of studies providing detailed analyses of pain features and the influence of individual variables. These findings should guide future research and clinical practice toward a more comprehensive and contextualized assessment of pain in Long COVID.
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