A study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has identified the most common symptoms and potential subgroups of long COVID, as well as an initial symptom-based scoring system to improve future diagnostics and treatment. The study analysed data from 9,764 adults, including 8,646 who had COVID-19 and 1,118 who did not have COVID-19, and found that long COVID was more common and severe in study participants infected before the 2021 Omicron variant. The researchers hope that this study is the next step towards potential treatments for long COVID, which affects the health and wellbeing of millions of Americans. The study was published in JAMA and is coordinated through the NIH’s Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) initiative.
As stated by a recent news release from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a study of nearly 10,000 Americans has uncovered new details about long COVID, which affects millions of Americans. Long COVID is the set of conditions that can affect nearly every tissue and organ in the body and can last for months or years after a person has COVID-19. The study, which was coordinated through the NIH’s Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) initiative, identified the most common symptoms, potential subgroups, and an initial symptom-based scoring system – with the aim of improving future diagnostics and treatment.
The researchers examined data from 9,764 adults, including 8,646 who had COVID-19 and 1,118 who did not have COVID-19. They assessed more than 30 symptoms across multiple body areas and organs and applied statistical analyses that identified 12 symptoms that most set apart those with and without long COVID. These symptoms include post-exertional malaise, fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, heart palpitations, issues with sexual desire or capacity, loss of smell or taste, thirst, chronic cough, chest pain, and abnormal movements.
The team then established a scoring system based on patient-reported symptoms. By assigning points to each of the 12 symptoms, the team gave each patient a score based on symptom combinations. With these scores in hand, researchers identified a meaningful threshold for identifying participants with long COVID.
The study also found that long COVID was more common and severe in study participants infected before the 2021 Omicron variant. This finding underscores the importance of continued research into long COVID, as new variants of the virus continue to emerge.
The NIH-funded research effort is part of a nationwide initiative dedicated to understanding why some people develop long-term symptoms following COVID-19, and most importantly, how to detect, treat, and prevent long COVID. The researchers hope this study is the next step toward potential treatments for long COVID, which affects the health and wellbeing of millions of Americans.
“Americans living with long COVID want to understand what is happening with their bodies,” said ADM Rachel L. Levine, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health. “RECOVER, as part of a broader government response, in collaboration with academia, industry, public health institutions, advocacy organizations and patients, is making great strides toward improving our understanding of long COVID and its associated conditions.”
The study’s initial findings have been published in JAMA, a leading medical journal. The researchers hope that their work will lead to improved diagnostics and treatments for long COVID, which has been a significant challenge for healthcare providers and patients alike.
All things considered, the NIH-funded research effort has identified the most common symptoms, potential subgroups, and an initial symptom-based scoring system for long COVID. The study’s findings are an important step toward improving future diagnostics and treatment for this challenging condition. Continued research into long COVID is essential, as new variants of the virus continue to emerge, and millions of Americans continue to be affected by this condition.
