Fig. 1.

Potential mechanisms of muscle damage in patients with long COVID-19. Systemic inflammatory state during the acute phase results in chronic release of proinflammatory cytokines, contributing to imbalances in muscle protein metabolism and impaired muscle health. In addition, physical inactivity due to hospitalization and quarantine as well as inadequate nutrition intake may also negatively impact muscle mass, quality, and function.

(From Servier Medical Art. Servier. Available at https://smart.servier.com/; under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License)