Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Long COVID
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with long covid? 15 human studies have investigated VNS for long covid, including 2 systematic reviews, 8 RCTs, and 3 controlled trials, published between 2021 and 2026, with 13 published since 2022. Studies use transcutaneous auricular (taVNS) and implanted (iVNS) stimulation. Findings vary by study design and population; the studies below are ranked by evidence strength so you can weigh the research directly.
2 systematic reviews · 8 RCTs · 3 controlled trials · 2 narrative reviews
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 2Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 8Randomised controlled trials
- 3Controlled clinical trials
- 2Narrative & scoping reviews
Stimulation Method
- 13taVNS
- 2iVNS
Research Momentum
13 of 15 studies (87%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
15 studies · strongest evidence firstTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Post-COVID-19 Condition: A Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal of Clinical Evidence
Balan et al. · Journal of Clinical Medicine · 2026
systematic reviewstaVNSEffects of Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Inflammatory Markers in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Taha et al. · Cureus · 2024 · n = 19
systematic reviewsiVNSEffect of Percutaneous Auricular Nerve Stimulation on Fatigue in Adults with Post-COVID Fatigue (PAuSing-pCF): Results of a Randomised, Sham-Controlled Trial
Shahmandi et al. · NIHR Open Research · 2026 · n = 114
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation Against Fatigue Syndrome in Patients with Long COVID: Results of the Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Pilot Trial COVIVA
Gierthmuehlen et al. · Neurology and Therapy · 2026 · n = 45
RCTstaVNSEffects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Fatigue in Post-COVID Syndrome: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Sham-Controlled Study
Percin et al. · International Journal of Clinical Practice · 2025 · n = 42
RCTstaVNSRandomized controlled study to evaluate the safety and clinical impact of percutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in patients with severe COVID-19
Seitz et al. · Frontiers in physiology · 2023 · n = 12
RCTstaVNSNon-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation for COVID-19: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial (SAVIOR I)
Tornero et al. · Frontiers in neurology · 2022 · n = 110
RCTsiVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation effects on inflammatory markers and clinical evolution of patients with COVID-19: a pilot randomized clinical trial
Uehara et al. · Expert review of medical devices · 2022
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Improves Inflammation but Does Not Interfere with Cardiac Modulation and Clinical Symptoms of Individuals with COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Corrêa et al. · Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022
RCTstaVNSAuricular Neuromodulation for Mass Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Insights From SOS COVID-19 a Multicentric, Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind French Pilot Study
Rangon et al. · Frontiers in physiology · 2021 · n = 31
RCTstaVNSFeasibility and acceptance of transdermal auricular vagus nerve stimulation using a TENS device in females suffering from long COVID fatigue
Pfoser-Poschacher et al. · Wiener klinische Wochenschrift · 2025
controlled trialstaVNSAuricular vagus nerve stimulation: a new option to treat inflammation in COVID-19?
Sant'Anna et al. · Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992) · 2023
controlled trialstaVNSMental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: The importance of the vagus nerve for biopsychosocial resilience
Dedoncker et al. · Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews · 2021
controlled trialstaVNSVagus nerve stimulation: An update of currently registered clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov
Horowitz et al. · Surgical neurology international · 2026 · n = 38
narrative reviewstaVNSVagal nerve stimulation for the management of long COVID symptoms
Khan et al. · Infectious medicine · 2024
narrative reviewstaVNS