- Long COVID-19 is more common than most people imagine, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Up to one in five adults under the age of 65 who have had COVID-19 have COVID for a long time.
- Research showed that the common long-standing symptoms of COVID were respiratory problems and pain in the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, or muscles.
New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that COVID has long been more common than most people imagine. The study, published earlier this week, found that one in five adults under the age of 65 has the disease.
For the study, researchers analyzed the electronic medical records of nearly two million people and compared people who were diagnosed with COVID-19 during the first 18 months of the pandemic with those who had never had the virus. The researchers looked for 26 different symptoms that could be related to long COVID and found that the most common long-term symptoms of COVID were respiratory problems and musculoskeletal pain, that is, pain in the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons or muscles.
The researchers found that between 30 and 365 days after people were diagnosed with COVID-19, 38% developed one or more new health problems (compared with 16% of people without COVID-19). but they saw a doctor). In people 65 years of age and older, 45% who had COVID-19 developed new health problems, compared with 19% who did not have the virus.
The researchers found that the risk of long-term symptoms of COVID in people with COVID-19 who were 65 years of age or older was 20% to 120% higher than in people who never had the virus. People between the ages of 18 and 64 had an up to 110% higher risk of developing most symptoms of long-term COVID.
“These findings are not surprising,” said Thomas Russo, MD, a professor and head of infectious diseases at Buffalo University in New York. “This will be the next phase of the pandemic. It is quite clear that long-term COVID is real. A significant portion of people are affected and for a significant period of time.”
While it’s important to keep in mind that COVID-19 vaccination status was not considered in the CDC’s analysis, another large study published Wednesday says the risk of COVID-19 is only reduced by 15 % if you are vaccinated. However, the study showed that vaccination seems to reduce the risk of lung and blood clot disorders.
Aside from the state of vaccination, there are many scientists who do not yet know about long-term COVID in particular. But, there are some answers. That’s what experts know right now.
What is the long COVID, again?
Long COVID, also known as post-COVID-19 condition, is a general term used to describe a wide range of new, recurring, or ongoing health problems that people experience after being first infected. with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. 19, according to CDC.
There is no evidence for long-term COVID and the symptoms may overlap with those of other health problems, making the condition difficult to diagnose, according to the CDC.
What are some of the potential long-term effects of COVID-19?
There is a long list of possible symptoms of COVID. According to the CDC, they usually include:
- Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
- Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental exertion
- Fever
- Difficulty breathing or difficulty breathing
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Heart beating or beating fast
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating
- Sound problems
- Dizziness when you get up (sideways)
- Feelings of needles
- Changes in smell or taste
- Depression or anxiety
- Diarrhea
- A stomachache
- Joint or muscle pain
- Eruption
- Changes in menstrual cycles
But these can be symptoms of a number of other health conditions, making things complicated, says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD, a senior researcher at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “It’s important to really delineate what symptoms are really disabling and interfere with the activities of daily living compared to people who have a cough that persists after the infection,” he says. “Many of COVID’s long-term studies do not use control groups, so you can’t really determine the true prevalence of some of the symptoms.”
Why do older people have a higher risk of COVID for a long time?
The study did not explore this, but Dr. Russo speculates that it is likely that older people are at higher risk for severe forms of COVID-19. “If you are asymptomatic or have a mild illness that does not result in hospitalization, you are in no way ruled out the possibility that you may develop long-term COVID,” he says. “But most studies suggest that the more serious your illness, the greater the risk of developing COVID for a long time.”
People over the age of 65 were at higher risk of developing neurological and mental health conditions, the CDC study found. “Post-COVID conditions affecting the nervous system are of particular concern because these conditions can lead to early entry into support services or the investment of additional resources in care,” the researchers wrote.
How long do persistent symptoms last after COVID-19 and before COVID is considered long?
There have been different definitions for this, says Dr. Russo, noting that some define someone as a long-term COVID patient when at least 30 days have passed since their diagnosis of COVID and they have symptoms, while others go up to 90 days.
(Why it’s worth it, the CDC says COVID-19 can be diagnosed very long when at least four weeks have passed since someone became infected with COVID-19).
“We need a uniform definition for study purposes so that we can define a population and move forward,” says Dr. Russo.
As for how long COVID symptoms can last, Dr. Russo says it really depends. “Some people have had symptoms for over a year right now,” he says.
If you have unusual symptoms and suspect that you have had COVID for a long time, Dr. Russo recommends that you do your research to find a specialized center near you that deals with these conditions. “There are a growing number of post-COVID recovery centers,” he says. And, if you can find a current study of people with your long-term symptoms of COVID, I suggest you try to include it. “Not only will it allow you to be part of a solution, but you can also be at the forefront of some treatment modalities,” he says.
This article is accurate at press time. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves rapidly and the scientific community’s understanding of the new coronavirus develops, some of the information may have changed since the last update. While we want to keep all our stories up to date, visit the online resources provided by the CDC, WHO, and your local public health department to keep you up to date. Always talk to your doctor for professional medical advice.
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