A recent study led by researchers at the University College London (UCL) and the University of Exeter has revealed that fatigue, a key symptom of long COVID, can greatly impact patients’ quality of life, sometimes even more than specific cancers.
The study examined over 3,750 patients who were referred to a long COVID clinic and utilized a digital app as part of their National Health Service (NHS) treatment.
Using Technology to Understand Patient Experience
Patients were asked to use the app to answer questionnaires about how long COVID was affecting their daily activities, fatigue levels, mental health, and overall quality of life.
The data collected provided a deep insight into the impacts of long COVID on patients’ daily lives.
The Devastating Impact of Long COVID
The researchers discovered that many long COVID patients were seriously ill and had fatigue scores on par with or worse than individuals with cancer-related anemia or severe kidney disease.
Furthermore, the patients’ health-related quality of life scores were lower than those of individuals with advanced metastatic cancers like stage IV lung cancer.
The impact of long COVID on daily activities was found to be worse than that of stroke patients and comparable to patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Long COVID’s Economic and Social Impact
The research also touched upon the potential economic and social impacts of long COVID, particularly as 90% of the long-COVID patients using the app were of working age, and over half had been unable to work for at least one day in the previous month.
With 71% of patients being female, the impact of long COVID may place additional burdens on already strained health and social care services.
An Urgent Need for More Research and Support
This study underscores the urgent need for more research on long COVID and a re-evaluation of current services to better meet the needs of long COVID patients.
Given the severity of fatigue and its impact on the lives of long COVID patients, the researchers suggest that it should be a crucial focus for clinical care and the design of rehabilitation services.
By doing so, patients could potentially have a better chance at recovery and return to work.
The Invisible Condition
Long COVID remains a largely invisible condition, yet its impacts are significant and life-altering for many people.
The study’s findings serve as a critical wake-up call for increased understanding and support, highlighting that long COVID’s impact on fatigue and quality of life can be worse than some cancers.
With more research, more effective and evidence-based services can be developed to support individuals grappling with this debilitating condition.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about Vitamin D deficiency linked to severe COVID-19, and how diets could help manage post-COVID syndrome.
For more information about COVID, please see recent studies about heart inflammation and COVID vaccination, and results showing zinc could help reduce COVID-19 infection risk.
The study was published in BMJ Open.
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