This also applies to those people who were not severely affected when first diagnosed with the virus, shows a Long Covid study led by the UCL Institute of Health Informatics . This focuses on patients with extreme breathlessness, cognitive dysfunction and poor health-related quality of life. Details were published in the “Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine”.
536 patients with Long Covid included in the study
The researchers included 536 patients with Long Covid in the study. 13 percent of those affected were hospitalized when first diagnosed. 32 percent of participants were healthcare workers. In 331 patients, i.e. 62 percent of the entire sample, organ impairments were found six months after the first diagnosis. These patients underwent a 40-minute MRI using Perspectum's CoverScan six months later in Oxford.
The results confirmed the scientists' suspicions. 29 percent of patients with Long Covid had impairment of several organs. Persistent symptoms and reduced function were noted after six and twelve months. 59 percent of those affected had an organ impairment twelve months after the first diagnosis. According to researcher Amitava Banerjee, symptoms at six and 12 months are related to female gender, younger age and impairment of a single organ.
Improvement only after a year
The study shows a reduction in symptoms between the sixth and twelfth months. Extreme breathlessness has decreased from 38 to 30 percent of patients. Cognitive dysfunction fell from 48 percent to 38 percent of those affected and poor quality of life due to health problems fell from 57 percent to 45 percent. According to Banerjee, three out of five people with Long Covid suffer from impairment of at least one organ. One in four has impairment in two or more organs. However, there are also cases without symptoms.
According to the expert, the impact on quality of life and missed working hours, especially in health professions, is a major cause for concern for those affected, but also for the health system and the economy. Many healthcare workers in this study had no pre-existing medical conditions. However, out of 172 people, 19 people still had symptoms and were unable to work after an average of 180 days. According to scientists, the mechanisms underlying Long Covid remain elusive.
Source:
Press release
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