A new study from Macquarie University’s Australian Institute of Health Innovation has found that in Australia, long COVID is more likely to impact women, people aged 40-59, and those living in higher-income areas.
The research, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, analyzed around 7 million medical records, providing key insights into the demographic and health profiles of people who tend to develop long COVID.
Long COVID is still being defined, but it generally includes persistent symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, brain fog, dizziness, and even organ damage.
Most people recover from COVID-19 within a few weeks, but some experience these lingering issues for months or even longer.
While it is challenging to measure the exact impact of long COVID, Australia’s health authorities estimate that up to 10% of COVID patients may develop it, adding strain to the health system.
Led by Professor Andrew Georgiou, the Macquarie research team aimed to better understand who is affected by long COVID in Australia.
The study found that women were more likely than men to have long COVID, and people with pre-existing health issues like mental health challenges, respiratory conditions, cancer, or arthritis were more prone to developing it.
Additionally, those aged 40-59 and living in high socioeconomic areas were at greater risk, a finding that reflects certain differences in how the virus has affected Australians compared to people in other countries.
Australia experienced the COVID-19 pandemic differently from many other places, with most people exposed to the virus after receiving vaccinations and largely during the spread of the Omicron variant.
This context might mean that Australians have a somewhat lower risk of long COVID than populations in countries with earlier or more intense COVID waves. However, researchers say there’s still much to learn about long COVID’s long-term effects.
The study’s findings underline the importance of General Practitioners (GPs) in identifying and managing long COVID. GPs are often the first healthcare providers to see patients with these lingering symptoms.
Professor Georgiou and Associate Professor Chris Pearce, a co-author of the study, emphasize the role of GPs in documenting long COVID symptoms carefully in medical records, as this can help improve understanding and treatment of the condition.
However, long COVID remains challenging to diagnose because the condition is not yet fully understood, and symptoms can vary widely. This uncertainty can mean that the condition may be under-represented in health records, as many cases could go unreported or undiagnosed.
Associate Professor Pearce encourages GPs to listen to their patients and record any symptoms related to long COVID, as this will support better data collection, leading to a clearer picture of how the condition affects people.
According to Pearce, “Better recording leads to better understanding and better treatments.” By improving the documentation of long COVID cases, GPs can help researchers uncover more about this complex illness, ultimately supporting better care for patients.
The study provides valuable insights into long COVID in Australia and highlights the need for more research. Understanding the condition better can lead to more effective treatments and support for those affected.
As the healthcare system adapts to this evolving challenge, the role of GPs remains crucial in helping patients manage and recover from long COVID.
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 new evidence on rare blood clots after COVID-19 vaccination, and results showing zinc could help reduce COVID-19 infection risk.
The research findings can be found in the Medical Journal of Australia.
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