Long COVID and autism spectrum disorders – a narrative review

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 disease may have long-term consequences, called long COVID. They concern symptoms (most often neurological and neuropsychiatric) lasting ≥12 weeks without another diagnosis and a predictable time of resolution. They become a diagnostic and therapeutic problem in patients with previously observed behavioral disorders, e.g. in people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Most published studies on long COVID mainly focus on adults, and there is limited information on the pediatric population. There is also not much information in the available literature about long COVID in people with autism spectrum disorders. The main aim of this narrative review is to present the problem of long COVID in people with autism spectrum disorders. Method: Based on a review of the current literature based on the EBM (Evidence-Based Medicine) paradigm, the problem of long COVID in autism spectrum disorders is presented. During data collection, the PubMed search engine, which supports the MEDLINE database, and the Google Scholar search engine were used. The criteria used to search for articles are works published since 2022, available in Polish or English. Results: The pandemic has deepened behavioral disorders related to the autism spectrum disorders. The occurrence of COVID-19 and subsequent symptoms associated with long COVID was and is more common in people with ASD. Conclusions: COVID-19 has a significant impact on neuropsychiatric symptoms in people with autism spectrum disorders. Difficulties have been observed in the treatment of long COVID in patients with ASD. There is a need to increase the awareness of parents, health care workers, and scientists about the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the population of people with autism spectrum disorders. This is necessary to understand the consequences of the disease, speed up diagnosis and provide appropriate specialist help.