Long COVID-19: a Four-Year prospective cohort study of risk factors, recovery, and quality of life.
Kamal, Sanaa M, Al Qahtani, Mohammed S, Al Aseeri, Ali et al.·BMC infectious diseases·2025
This study followed 816 people in Saudi Arabia for up to four years after they had COVID-19 to see who developed long COVID and what symptoms they experienced. Researchers found that about 29% developed long COVID, with fatigue, post-exertional malaise (worsening after activity), cough, and brain fog being the most common symptoms. Women and people with diabetes were at higher risk, and those who got reinfected or were hospitalized took longer to recover.