Long COVID Risks Have Been Exaggerated by Misleading Data: New Analysis

New research suggests epidemiologic research has distorted data on long COVID, raising undue concern over symptoms and conditions researchers say are common to other respiratory viruses.

In a paper published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine (pdf) on Sept. 25, researchers said high rates of long COVID continue to be reported in academic journals, but these scientific publications are overestimating the prevalence of the condition due to overly broad definitions, lack of proper control groups, and other methodological flaws.

The epidemiologic research on long COVID "has been misleading" and has "created widespread misunderstanding," according to the paper. Poorly conducted systematic reviews and meta-analyses that overstate the risks of long COVID are “being fed to the public” by the media and on social media.