Research Findings Could Change Treatment of Long-COVID

In a study published in The Lancet, investigators conducted a longitudinal investigation, tracking individuals experiencing long-COVID. Long-COVID is characterized by symptoms lasting more than 1 month following a suspected or definite positive case of COVID-19. 

More than 200 million people globally and 1.9 million individuals in the UK are thought to have long-COVID and currently there are around 200 symptoms correlated to the illness. Some include skin irritations, fatigue, and shortness of breath. 

Individuals who took part in the research noted their symptoms on the COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale which assessed overall health, functional disability, and symptom severity. The assessment also requested a note of any other signs of long-COVID they experienced prior to the study. The findings of this study reveal that symptoms in over half of long COVID patients can vary over the course of the illness, highlighting the importance of medical interventions and individual care. 

The division of long COVID into mild, moderate, and severe categories could enhance personalized care. The researchers recommend monitoring mild cases through primary healthcare while reserving advanced care for more severe instances of long-COVID.  

The authors noted in ‘The Lancet’, “Long COVID should be assessed and evaluated in the light of the fluctuant nature of the condition and not necessarily assumed always to have the same type or severity of the symptoms.” 

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