Long COVID corresponds to the occurrence of symptoms beyond twelve weeks after the onset of acute COVID-19 illness. The study aimed to analyze impacts of long COVID on the general health and psychosocial well-being of the Pakistani population. This cross-sectional study aimed to analyse the impacts of long COVID on general health and psychosocial well-being. For this study, the participants were interviewed, and their responses were recorded on a questionnaire capturing information on demographics, COVID-19 status, duration of symptoms and long COVID symptoms. The psychological impacts of the pandemic were assessed using scales like Short Mood and feeling questionnaire (sMFQ), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Regression analysis was conducted to analyse the predictors of long COVID. A total of 300 participants were interviewed, of which 155 (52%) had COVID-19 illness. Of these 54 (35%) had persistent symptoms for a period of more than 12 weeks classified as long COVID. Muscle problems and fatigue were the most frequent (14.7%) symptoms encountered, followed by breathing problems (12.6%) and cognitive issues (12.6%). Symptoms such as decrease in appetite and confusion or disorientation during the initial phase of the infection were associated with long COVID. Majority of the participants (83.3%) had moderate level of perceived stress while moderate to severe levels of stress was observed in 17.3% of the individuals. Moreover, a high level positive mental wellbeing was also observed.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

The study was approved by Institutional Review Board & Ethics Committee (IRB&EC), Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University Islamabad (IRB # 274-21)

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The data for this study is not publicly available.