Oxford University study highlights impact of Long COVID

There are no treatments for long-term COVID-19 and currently only systems are treated to provide rehabilitation.

In a new study, University of Oxford along with Universities of Leeds and Arizona analysed many earlier studies on COVID-19 to understand the range and number of people affected, which are the symptoms the patient develops, the underlying mechanisms of disease, and current and future treatments.

Long Covid includes symptoms which persist for three months or more after the infection. It can affect any age group and can damage many organ systems leading to long-term and severely impaired function which leads to many symptoms including cognitive impairment, fatigue, breathlessness and pain.

Scientists found that there are people who get better gradually over a long Covid and there are others in which the condition can persist for years. Those people who developed these complications before the advent of the vaccine are still unwell. However, those who are fully vaccinated and have taken boosters their risk of developing long-term Covid is much less.

Trisha Greenhalgh, Professor of Primary Care Health Sciences at Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, said, "Long COVID is a dismal condition but there are grounds for cautious optimism. Various mechanism-based treatments are being tested in research trials. If proven effective, these would allow us to target particular sub-groups of people with precision therapies."

"Treatments aside, it is becoming increasingly clear that Long COVID places an enormous social and economic burden on individuals, families and society. In particular, we need to find better ways to treat and support the ‘long-haulers’—people who have been unwell for two years or more and whose lives have often been turned upside down," added Trisha Greenhalgh.

More details

The study found that though there are no proven treatments for long-term covid, there is a need to create and test biomarkers to diagnose and monitor this infection. Currently, the treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms.

It is advisable to take precautions by avoiding strenuous exercise during COVID-19 infection, wearing a mask to avoid getting infected and ensuring that the person is up to date with their Covid vaccines and boosters.

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