Persistent Symptoms Affect Majority of Long COVID Patients
A recent international study reveals that two-thirds of individuals suffering from long-term COVID continue to experience persistent symptoms beyond the first year of their illness. Published on January 23 in PLOS Medicine, the research followed 982 adults aged 18 to 65 with post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) and 576 controls who had no history of the condition. Participants underwent comprehensive evaluations, including neurocognitive, cardiopulmonary exercise, and laboratory tests. Findings showed that 68% of those with PCS still reported significant health issues in the second year. Common symptoms included fatigue, cognitive disturbances such as memory and attention problems, breathlessness, and mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances.
Objective Signs of Health Decline in Long COVID Patients
The study identified measurable declines in health among patients with persistent PCS symptoms. Individuals demonstrated reduced handgrip strength, maximal oxygen consumption, and ventilatory efficiency during physical assessments. Cognitive tests also revealed lower scores in memory, attention, and processing speed among those experiencing post-exertional malaise, a condition reported by 35.6% of participants with PCS. Despite these findings, the researchers noted a lack of pre-COVID cognitive data for comparison. Interestingly, no significant differences were observed in cardiac function or laboratory markers, including indicators of viral persistence. The researchers highlighted that individuals with obesity, lower educational attainment, or severe initial COVID-19 illness were at greater risk of experiencing prolonged symptoms.
Call for Better Clinical Evaluation and Long-Term Studies
The authors emphasized the need for improved clinical approaches to managing PCS. They recommend integrating cognitive and exercise testing into the evaluation and monitoring of patients with suspected Long COVID. Despite the extensive assessments, the study found no clear laboratory markers to explain the persistence of symptoms, underscoring the complex nature of the condition. The researchers also called for longer-term observational studies to identify factors influencing recovery or prolonged illness in PCS patients. This study sheds light on the challenges faced by millions worldwide who continue to struggle with the long-term effects of COVID-19, highlighting the urgent need for better diagnosis, treatment, and support for those affected.
