Methodological quality and clinical applicability of long COVID guidelines and scientific statements: a systematic review using AGREE II and AGREE-REX.

What was studied

This review rated the quality of guidelines and statements on long COVID care for adults. It used rating tools named AGREE and AGREE-REX. One tool looks at method quality. The other looks at how usable the advice is. The review searched sources between February and April 2026, and updated on 2 September 2026.

What they found

From 19 first documents, 510 pieces of advice were pulled out. Quality was uneven. Only one document had a GRADE-compatible link from evidence to decisions. A subset of the documents was picked as top ones. They gave 99 pieces of advice. They scored higher in all areas. Even so, usability was their weakest point. The advice was aimed at doctors more than at patients. Common themes were shared decisions, team rehab, patient-centered care and return-to-work help.

What it means for patients

The authors say guidance on long COVID is plentiful but uneven. They say it needs formal adaptation to local settings before use.

Why it is not certain yet

Little guidance came from low- and middle-income countries. The ways the guidelines were built differed a lot. Data were pulled by one reviewer and checked by another. This review rates guidelines, not patient results.

Source

Methodological quality and clinical applicability of long COVID guidelines and scientific statements: a systematic review using AGREE II and AGREE-REX.

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