Recent studies from the Post-COVID-19 Program at UT Health Austin are offering valuable insights into the condition known as long COVID.
This is crucial as health care providers strive to improve care for patients grappling with this challenging aftermath of COVID-19.
Long COVID, as defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), includes symptoms that persist for weeks, months, or even years following the initial COVID-19 infection.
Notably, these lingering symptoms can emerge even in people who initially had no symptoms during their infection.
Dr. W. Michael Brode, the medical director of the Post-COVID-19 Program, emphasizes the significance of this research.
He points out that about 10% of COVID-19 patients develop long COVID, which presents a complex challenge in terms of definition and treatment.
One of the key research projects, published in Scientific Reports, involved a study of 252 patients.
These individuals, despite varying ages, genders, initial infection severities, or pre-existing health conditions, reported a complex array of disabling symptoms post-COVID.
Common symptoms included fatigue, “brain fog,” and concentration difficulties. The impact of these symptoms on patients’ mental and physical health is substantial, affecting their employment status and overall quality of life.
In a collaboration with Ohio State University researchers, another study published in Biomedicines introduces a blood test that can differentiate long COVID from fibromyalgia with 100% accuracy.
This is a significant development, as fibromyalgia—characterized by body pain, fatigue, and sleep issues—shares many symptoms with long COVID, yet neither condition had a definitive diagnostic test until now.
The study tested 100 adult patients, half diagnosed with long COVID and half with fibromyalgia.
The researchers identified a unique chemical marker in the blood of fibromyalgia patients, which was not present in those with long COVID. This discovery could lead to quicker, more accurate diagnoses in clinical settings.
Dr. Brode hopes these findings will not only deepen the understanding of long COVID but also lead to specific diagnostic tools and treatments.
As millions continue to live with the impacts of the pandemic, translating these research insights into practical healthcare solutions remains a priority.
The work at UT Health Austin symbolizes a significant step forward in addressing the ongoing challenges posed by long COVID.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to severe COVID-19, death, and how diets could help manage post-COVID syndrome.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about COVID infection and vaccination linked to heart disease, and results showing extracts from two wild plants can inhibit COVID-19 virus.
The research findings can be found in Scientific Reports.
Copyright © 2024 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
