Conceptual and Methodological Barriers to Understanding Long COVID

Abstract

This article focuses on individuals with Long COVID after contracting SARS-CoV-2. Although some patients have complications such as diabetes mellitus or tissue damage to the heart or lungs as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection, our research focuses on individuals who have persistent symptoms that are not consistent with major organ dysfunction. The current article reviews methodological and conceptual issues that need to be considered in the development and use of a case definition for Long COVID and discusses the significance of appropriately phrasing questions assessing symptoms, specifying thresholds for when to count a symptom, determining how many symptoms should be required for a diagnosis, assessing symptoms over time, using multiple assessment modalities, and differentiating symptomatology from functionality. Dealing with these issues, particularly triangulating data from multiple sources, allows investigators to develop a more reliable and valid way to assess Long COVID.