Daniel López-Padilla, Servicio de Neumología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón; Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España
Virginia Gallo-González, Servicio de Neumología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón; Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España
Javier de Miguel-Díez, Servicio de Neumología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón; Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España
Sergio Suárez-Escudero, Servicio de Neumología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España
Elena Ojeda-Castillejo, Servicio de Neumología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España
Zichen Ji, Servicio de Neumología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España
Luis Puente-Maestu, Servicio de Neumología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón; Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España
Post-COVID syndrome, or long COVID, is as a clinical condition with significant implications for public health and the workforce. This review article critically examines the available evidence on the impact of long COVID on the occupational lives of affected individuals, focusing on the clinical manifestations that have interfered with job performance, the barriers to returning to work, and proposed multidisciplinary rehabilitation strategies. The persistence of symptoms constitutes a new category of functional disability, frequently underestimated in many health and social security systems, particularly in Latin America, where informal employment is widespread. International and regional experiences are described, clinical guideline recommendations are examined, and regulatory, administrative, and structural challenges are identified. Furthermore, this article proposes a research and action agenda that includes intersectoral networks, strategies for progressive workplace adaptation, and expanded access to rehabilitation services at the most basic levels of healthcare. The article also advocates for a coordinated response among different sectors to promote equity and the protection of labor rights for individuals affected by long COVID.
Keywords: Public health. Work performance. Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome.