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Post-COVID syndrome: accumulated knowledge and unresolved questions

https://doi.org/10.22448/AMJ.2025.1.64-72

Abstract

In 2019, a novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) emerged globally and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Early studies of COVID-19 revealed that even after resolution of acute symptoms, patients continued to experience a wide range of nonspecific complaints that significantly impaired quality of life for prolonged periods. This condition became known as “postCOVID syndrome” (PCS).

Objective of the review is to analyze and summarize data from Russian and international studies focusing on the pathogenetic mechanisms and clinical manifestations of PCS. ,

Main findings. Initial reports of persistent nonspecific symptoms following recovery from COVID-19 appeared in early 2020. Subsequently, healthcare providers increasingly noted that nonspecific complaints – such as unexplained general weakness, fatigue, pain syndromes, and dyspnea – were becoming common reasons for patient visits. Initially thought to primarily affect older adults, further research indicated that children and adolescents are similarly susceptible to developing PCS. A comprehensive investigation into the pathogenesis of PCS has revealed multiple underlying mechanisms contributing to its development. Conclusion. Understanding the phenomenon of PCS requires acknowledging the complexity of its pathogenetic mechanisms and the multisystem nature of its manifestations. Researchers still face numerous unresolved questions in establishing a unified, comprehensive understanding of the disease and identifying effective therapeutic strategies for patients with PCS.

About the Authors

A. A. Bakina
Amur State Medical Academy Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation

Anastasia A. Bakina

Blagoveshchensk



V. I. Pavlenko
Amur State Medical Academy Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation

Valentina I. Pavlenko

Blagoveshchensk



E. G. Kulik
Amur State Medical Academy Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation

Ekaterina G. Kulik

Blagoveshchensk



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Bakina A.A., Pavlenko V.I., Kulik E.G. Post-COVID syndrome: accumulated knowledge and unresolved questions. Amur Medical Journal. 2025;13(1):64-72. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22448/AMJ.2025.1.64-72

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