Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19

The Lancet Many patients with COVID-19 develop physical, cognitive, and mental health impairments that persist for more than 3 months after infection, known collectively as long COVID or post-COVID-19 condition. Survivors of COVID-19-related critical illness are also at risk of the complications of post-intensive care syndrome. These multisystem manifestations can have a devastating impact on survivors and their families, with important implications for health-care systems and society. 
 
In the first of a Series of three papers, Sally Singh and colleagues outline pulmonary and extrapulmonary origins of persistent breathlessness and consider the promise of adapted pulmonary rehabilitation programmes and physiotherapy techniques for breathing management. Pratik Pandharipande and colleagues discuss the mechanistic underpinnings of neurological, cognitive, and psychiatric sequelae of COVID-19-related critical illness and outline potential mitigation strategies. Finally, Matteo Parotto and colleagues discuss pathophysiological mechanisms of the multisystem manifestations of post-COVID-19 condition after critical illness, highlight the challenges of providing appropriate care and support for survivors, and outline priorities for research.