A new review by researchers has shed light on the widespread and long-lasting impact of long COVID, a condition where symptoms persist for three months or more after recovering from the initial COVID-19 infection.
This condition, also known as Post-COVID-19 condition, can affect almost anyone, including children, and can damage multiple organ systems, leading to a wide range of symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, breathlessness, and pain.
Long COVID is more common in women and those of lower socioeconomic status, although the reasons for these differences are still being studied.
While some people gradually recover, others continue to experience symptoms for years.
Many who developed long COVID before vaccines became available are still struggling with the condition.
“Long COVID is a devastating disease with a profound human toll and socioeconomic impact,” says Janko Nikolich, a senior author of the paper and director of the Aegis Consortium at the University of Arizona Health Sciences.
The study aims to understand the underlying mechanisms of long COVID and find potential targets for treatment, which could also help with other chronic conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
The review highlights that even with full vaccination and boosters, 3-5% of people worldwide still develop long COVID after a COVID-19 infection.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 4-10% of the adult population is affected by long COVID, and 1 in 10 adults who had COVID-19 develop long COVID.
Researchers found that various biological mechanisms contribute to long COVID, including the persistence of the virus in the body, disruptions to the immune system, and microscopic blood clots.
These issues can arise even in people who had only mild COVID-19 infections.
Currently, there are no proven treatments for long COVID, and managing the condition involves relieving symptoms and providing rehabilitation.
The researchers emphasize the urgent need to develop biomarkers, such as blood tests, to diagnose and monitor long COVID and to find treatments that address the root causes of the disease.
People can lower their risk of developing long COVID by avoiding COVID-19 infection, taking antivirals promptly if infected, avoiding strenuous exercise during infection, and staying up to date with vaccines and boosters.
“Long COVID is a dismal condition, but there are grounds for cautious optimism,” says Trisha Greenhalgh, the study’s lead author and a professor at Oxford University. Research trials are testing new treatments, which, if proven effective, could offer targeted therapies for those affected.
The review was published in The Lancet and involved contributions from researchers at the University of Arizona, the University of Oxford, and the University of Leeds.
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.
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