Health behaviour
What do global experts agree on about Long COVID?
Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC
A 179-person, 28-country Delphi reached 187 consensus statements—strongest on diagnosis and research needs, including children and biomarkers.
Study at a glance
- Design
- Qualitative / archival — 3-round modified Delphi consensus among clinicians, researchers, and people with lived Long COVID experience (WHN governance)
- N
- N=179 · 179 panelists in 28 countries; 187 statements reached consensus
- Population
- International Long COVID clinicians, researchers, and lived-experience participants
- Outcome
- Consensus recommendations spanning definition, diagnosis, treatment, research, and society
Structured fields used in claim comparison tables when every cited study has a complete layer.
Key findings
187 statements achieved consensus. Diagnosis/clinical assessment and general research were strongest; pediatric impacts and societal/economic effects were priorities; nervous-system/organ involvement and biomarker needs were emphasized.
Methodology
Under World Health Network oversight, a modified 3-round Delphi surveyed clinicians, researchers, and people with lived Long COVID experience across definition, diagnosis, treatment, research, and socioeconomic domains.
Limitations
Not a treatment efficacy trial—recommendations reflect expert agreement, not new randomized outcome data.
How this study connects
Role on claims
Each row is a claim on a concept or method page where this paper supports, challenges, or qualifies the statement. Roles are hand-checked — not a model guess.
Global experts reached broad consensus on diagnosis/assessment and research priorities.
A 28-country Delphi (179 participants) produced 187 consensus statements, strongest on diagnosis/clinical assessment and research, including pediatric and societal impacts.
Evidence for the claim as stated.
Patient-led surveys, clinic HRQoL cohorts, and Delphi consensus should not be collapsed into one prevalence or one treatment claim.
Evidence for the claim as stated.
Open questions
Tensions this paper is part of
From concept pages' “where studies disagree.” Disagreement means the same question; scope means different assays, populations, or outcomes.
Patient-led surveys, clinic HRQoL cohorts, and Delphi consensus should not be collapsed into one prevalence or one treatment claim.
Related papers in this topic
Same topic cluster — not a recommendation engine.