Long COVID appears to manifest as a post-viral syndrome indistinguishable from seasonal flu and other respiratory illnesses, with no evidence of accumulation of moderate to severe functional limitations one year after infection, according to new studies presented at this year’s European Congress of Clinics. Medicine. Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2024) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April).
The study by Queensland Health researchers suggests that in Queensland’s highly vaccinated population exposed to the omicron variant, the long-term effect of COVID on the healthcare formula will likely come from large numbers of people infected with SARS-CoV-2. over a short period of time rather than the severity of long COVID symptoms or functional impairment.
The findings add to previous studies by the same authors and published in BMJ Public Health, which found no difference in persistent symptoms and functional impairment of COVID-19 compared to influenza 12 weeks after infection.
Long-term COVID-19 rates in Australia are low due to high vaccination rates following the easing of COVID restrictions and the population’s upcoming exposure to the omicron variant. Symptoms reported with the disease include fatigue, brain fog, cough, shortness of breath, changes in smell and taste, dizziness, and rapid or abnormal heartbeat.
To better understand the effect of long COVID in the Australian state of Queensland, researchers surveyed 5,112 symptomatic seniors aged 18 and older, adding those who had PCR-confirmed COVID-19 infection (2,399 adults) and those who were PCR negative for COVID-19 (2,713 adults: 995 positive for influenza and 1,718 PCR negative for either who still had symptoms of respiratory illness) between 29 and 29 December. May and June 25, 2022.
COVID-19 and influenza laboratory reports are mandatory upon request for a PCR check under Queensland Public Health legislation, with effects recorded in the Queensland Department of Health’s Reportable Situations system.
A year after their PCR test, in May and June 2023, participants were asked about the patience of their symptoms and the degree of functional impairment using a questionnaire sent via an SMS link.
Overall, 16% (834/5112) of all respondents reported persistent symptoms one year later, and 3. 6% (184) reported moderate to severe functional impairment in activities of daily living.
After controlling for influencing factors, adding age, sex, and First Nations status, the research found no evidence that adults who tested positive for COVID-19 were more likely to have moderate to severe functional limitations one year after diagnosis than symptomatic adults who tested negative for COVID-19. COVID-19 (3. 0% vs. 4. 1%).
In addition, the effects were similar compared to the 995 symptomatic adults with influenza (3. 0% vs. 3. 4%).
Interestingly, the research also found that those most likely to report moderate to severe functional impairment were those over the age of 50 or older and those who had symptoms of dizziness, muscle aches, shortness of breath, post-exertional malaise, and tiredness.
“In fitness systems with fully vaccinated populations, long COVID would have arguably emerged as a distinct and severe illness due to the high volumes of COVID-19 cases during the pandemic. However, we found that the rates of persistent symptoms and functional impairment are indistinguishable from other post-viral illnesses,” says Dr John Gerrard, Queensland’s director of fitness.
“These findings underscore the importance of comparing post-COVID-19 outcomes with those of other respiratory infections and conducting studies on post-viral syndromes. “
He adds: “In addition, we believe it is time to avoid terms such as ‘long COVID’. They mistakenly mean that there is something unique and exceptional about the long-term symptoms related to this virus. This terminology can cause unnecessary worry and, in some cases, hypervigilance in the face of longer symptoms that can obstruct healing.
The authors caution that effects are associations and constitute prevalence. They point out several limitations, adding the fact that participants who were hospitalized or had pre-existing conditions were identifiable within the cohort.
They also note that the threat of long COVID was to decrease the omicron wave compared to other SARS-CoV-2 variants, and because 90% of Queenslanders were vaccinated when omicron emerged, the lower severity of long COVID may simply be due to vaccination and/or the variant.
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