One in ten coronavirus survivors experience ‘long Covid’ symptoms three months after infection

One in ten coronavirus survivors experience ‘long Covid’ symptoms three months after infection

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One in ten coronavirus survivors suffers from ‘long Covid’ symptoms, such as fatigue, three months after beating the disease, says a government-funded review

  • National Institute of Health Research has reviewed more than 300 scientific articles
  • The analysis found that 10% of all survivors suffer persistent symptoms three months later
  • The most common problem was fatigue, followed by shortness of breath and “brain fog”

By Connor Boyd Assistant Health Editor for Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

One in 10 coronavirus patients suffers from persistent symptoms months after the initial infection, a government-funded report concluded.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) analyzed more than 300 scientific articles from around the world as part of its second review on ‘Long Covid’.

He found that about 10 percent of survivors continue to suffer from symptoms for at least three months after the disease is cured.

The most common problem was fatigue, followed by shortness of breath and “brain fog”, but the most serious symptoms included organ damage, anxiety and depression.

The review concluded that the more severe the initial disease, the more likely patients are to suffer from Long Covid. For example, 60 to 90 percent of people who were hospitalized with Covid experienced persistent symptoms two months later.

But the NIHR said that a ‘lack of consistency around Long Covid’s definition and measurement’ makes it difficult to determine exactly what the condition is.

He added: ‘The review concluded that there is considerable variation in the range of symptoms that were considered Long Covid by the researchers.

‘Used as a broad term, Long Covid can cover diseases that can have different causes.’

The NIHR said it believed that Long Covid could include up to four different syndromes, with different underlying causes and treatment needs.

One in 10 coronavirus patients suffers from persistent symptoms months after the initial infection, a government-funded report concluded (stock image)

One in 10 coronavirus patients suffers from persistent symptoms months after the initial infection, a government-funded report concluded (stock image)

A separate document submitted to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) last month revealed that more than 90 percent of people continue to experience symptoms at least three months after being hospitalized with Covid

A separate document submitted to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) last month revealed that more than 90 percent of people continue to experience symptoms at least three months after being hospitalized with Covid

They include post-ICU syndrome, health problems that remain after a critical illness, long-term organ damage and post-viral syndrome, a feeling of tiredness and weakness that lingers after the body fights an unpleasant infection.

The NIHR said there is some evidence that Long Covid may be an active disease, with continuous inflammatory responses, prolonged viral activity or blood clotting disorders.

Dr. Elaine Maxwell, author of the review and content leader at the NIHR Center for Engagement and Dissemination said: ‘While this review helps to improve our understanding of the different patterns of the disease, we need to know more about the prevalence of each and its causes. We also need more data on the duration of symptoms.

“It appears that at least 10 percent of people are experiencing at least one symptom of Long Covid three months after diagnosis, but the limitations in the way the data is collected mean that this may not be a comprehensive reflex and we can see the estimates increase ”.

Candace Imison, Associate Director of Evidence and Dissemination at the NIHR Center for Engagement and Dissemination (CED) added: ‘Like so many other things related to Covid-19,’ Long Covid ‘quickly became part of our everyday language, but much about it is unknown. – although research commissioned by NIHR and others is being done urgently to find out more.

“This second review takes us forward, focusing on a wide range of emerging evidence that simply did not exist six months ago. Along with the results of our brief survey of people living with Long Covid, it provides a unique insight into the current state of the game.

“Through our thematic analyzes, we intend to act as knowledge brokers, working in collaboration with the public and specialists to improve health and social care and inform policies and future research priorities. We hope that this analysis will also be useful for professionals, who are increasingly coming into contact with people with Long Covid and for people who have persistent symptoms because of Covid-19, as well as their families or employers. ‘

What are the long-term symptoms of Covid-19?

Most coronavirus patients recover within two weeks, with fever, cough and losing their sense of smell or taste for several days.

However, the evidence is beginning to show that the telltale symptoms of the virus can persist for weeks on end at ‘long distance’ – the term for patients plagued by lasting complications.

Data from the COVID Symptom Study app, from King’s College London and the health company Zoe, suggest that one in ten people may still have symptoms after three weeks, and some may suffer for months.

Long-term symptoms include:

  • Chronic tiredness
  • Shortness of breathe
  • Increased heart rate
  • Delusions
  • Strokes
  • Insomnia
  • Loss of taste / smell
  • Kidney disease
  • Mobility problems
  • Headaches
  • Muscle aches
  • Fevers

For those with more severe illness, Italian researchers who followed 143 people who had been hospitalized with the illness found that almost 90 percent still had symptoms, including fatigue, two months after the first illness.

The most common complaints were fatigue, shortness of breath and joint pain – all reported during the battle with the disease.

Another study in Italy showed that one in ten people who lose their taste and smell with the coronavirus – now recognized as a key sign of the infection – may not recover in a month.

The study, published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, involved 187 Italians who had the virus but were not sick enough to be admitted to the hospital.

UK Medical Director Professor Chris Whitty said the long-term health impacts of Covid-19 “can be significant”.

Support groups like Long Covid have emerged online for those who ‘suspected Covid-19 and their experience does not follow the symptoms of the book or the recovery time’.

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