ISLAMABAD: A comprehensive study involving approximately 10,000 individuals in the US has revealed that around one in 10 people infected with the highly contagious Omicron variant of Covid-19 have experienced the effects of long Covid in the six months following their infection.
The findings indicate a lower prevalence of long Covid compared to earlier variants, which were associated with a 30% occurrence rate. The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published in Jama, aimed to better define and potentially treat the long-term effects of the condition.
The research, which sought to identify symptoms of long Covid, examined a total of 9,764 participants, including 8,646 who were infected with Covid-19 and 1,118 who were uninfected. Over 30 different symptoms were identified to persist for at least six months following infection, as reported by the National UAE. The study authors used a patient-reported scoring system to narrow down the long Covid symptom list to 12 key indicators.
Prominent Long Covid Symptoms
Post-exertional malaise, characterized by extreme exhaustion after minor physical or mental tasks, emerged as the most prominent long Covid symptom in the study. Other common symptoms included fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, heart palpitations, loss of smell or taste, thirst, chronic cough, chest pain, and abnormal movements.
Although extensive research has been conducted globally on the mysterious post-Covid condition, the reasons behind why some individuals develop long Covid while others do not remain unknown. The authors of the study hope that their research will provide validation to those who are suffering, as a previous report from the Brookings Institution estimated that between two and four million individuals in the US are unable to work due to long Covid.
Study author Leora Horwitz emphasized the significance of this research in defining long Covid beyond individual symptoms. She stated, “This approach, which may evolve over time, will serve as a foundation for scientific discovery and treatment design.” The study’s results are also expected to aid doctors in better identifying long Covid and support medical researchers in developing effective treatments for its symptoms.
