A Systematic Scoping Review and Conceptual Analysis of New-Onset Fibromyalgia Manifestations After Non-Hospitalized COVID-19: Empirics, Definitions, Methodologies, Pathophysiology, Mapping of Literature, and Knowledge Gaps

The systematic scoping review examines new-onset fibromyalgia manifestations following non-hospitalized COVID-19, highlighting the overlap with Long/Post Covid-19 syndrome (LC), chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. A total of 228 records were analyzed, revealing inconsistencies in definitions and methodologies, leading to a fragmented understanding of the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and LC. The review underscores the need for standardized definitions, rigorous methodologies, and epidemiological studies to clarify the pathophysiology and develop effective treatments. It suggests that LC may be a non-autoimmune connective tissue disease and calls for hypothesis-driven studies to explore neurological mechanisms.