CDC: 1 in 5 adult COVID-19 survivors has long COVID
New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that long COVID is more common than most people realize. The , which was published earlier this week, found that one in five adults under the age of 65 has the condition.
For the study, researchers analyzed electronic medical records of nearly 2 million people and compared people who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the first 18 months of the pandemic to those who had never had the virus. Researchers looked for 26 different symptoms that could be linked with long COVID and found that the most common long COVID-19 symptoms were respiratory issues and musculoskeletal pain, i.e. pain in the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, or muscles.
The researchers discovered that, between 30 and 365 days after people were diagnosed with COVID-19, 38% developed one or more new health issues (compared to 16% of people who didn바카라 게임 웹사이트t have COVID-19 but saw a doctor). In people aged 65 and up, 45% who had COVID-19 developed new health issues, compared to 19% of those who didn바카라 게임 웹사이트t have the virus.
The researchers discovered that the risk of long COVID symptoms in people who had COVID-19 who were 65 and up was between 20% and 120% higher than in people who never had the virus. People between the ages of 18 and 64 had an up to 110% higher risk of developing most of the symptoms of long COVID.
바카라 게임 웹사이트These findings are not at all surprising,바카라 게임 웹사이트 says Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. 바카라 게임 웹사이트This is going to be the next phase of the pandemic. It바카라 게임 웹사이트s quite clear that long COVID is real. A significant portion of individuals are affected and for a significant period of time.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Though it is important to note that COVID-19 vaccination status was not considered in the CDC바카라 게임 웹사이트s analysis, published Wednesday says that your risk of long COVID-19 is only reduced by about 15% if you바카라 게임 웹사이트re vaccinated. Though, the study did show that being vaccinated does appear to lower your risk of lung and blood clot disorders.
Vaccination status aside, there바카라 게임 웹사이트s a lot scientists still don바카라 게임 웹사이트t know about long COVID in particular. But, there are some answers. Here바카라 게임 웹사이트s what experts know right now.
What is long COVID, again?
Long COVID, aka post-COVID-19 conditions, is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems that people experience after first being infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to the .
There is no test for long COVID and symptoms can overlap with those of other health issues, making the condition tricky to diagnose, per the CDC.
What are some of the potential long-term effects of COVID-19?
There is a laundry list of potential symptoms of long COVID. Per the , they most commonly include:
- Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
- Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort
- Fever
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Fast-beating or pounding heart
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating
- Sleep problems
- Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)
- Pins-and-needles feelings
- Change in smell or taste
- Depression or anxiety
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Joint or muscle pain
- Rash
- Changes in menstrual cycles
But these can be symptoms of a range of other health conditions, which makes things tricky, says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. 바카라 게임 웹사이트It바카라 게임 웹사이트s important to really delineate which symptoms are actually disabling and interfere with activities of daily life versus people who have a cough that persists post-infection,바카라 게임 웹사이트 he says. 바카라 게임 웹사이트Many of the long COVID studies do not use control groups, so you really cannot determine the true prevalence of some of the symptoms.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Why are older people at more risk for long COVID?
The study didn바카라 게임 웹사이트t explore this, but Dr. Russo speculates that it바카라 게임 웹사이트s likely because older people are at greater risk for . 바카라 게임 웹사이트If you바카라 게임 웹사이트re asymptomatic or have mild disease that doesn바카라 게임 웹사이트t result in hospitalization, by no means does it preclude you from the possibility that you can develop long COVID,바카라 게임 웹사이트 he says. 바카라 게임 웹사이트But most studies suggest that the more severe disease you have, the greater the risk you바카라 게임 웹사이트ll develop long COVID.바카라 게임 웹사이트
People over 65 were at an increased risk of developing neurological and mental health conditions, the CDC study found. 바카라 게임 웹사이트Post-COVID conditions affecting the nervous system are of particular concern because these conditions can lead to early entry into supportive services or investment of additional resources into care,바카라 게임 웹사이트 the researchers wrote.
How long do lingering symptoms last after COVID-19 and before it바카라 게임 웹사이트s considered long COVID?
There have been different definitions for this, Dr. Russo says, noting that some define someone as having long COVID when it바카라 게임 웹사이트s been at least 30 days since their COVID-19 diagnosis and they바카라 게임 웹사이트re having symptoms, while others go up to 90 days.
바카라 게임 웹사이트We need a uniform definition for study purposes so we can define a population and move forward,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Dr. Russo said.
As for how long symptoms of long COVID can last, Dr. Russo says it really depends. 바카라 게임 웹사이트Some people have had symptoms for over a year at this point,바카라 게임 웹사이트 he says.
If you바카라 게임 웹사이트re having unusual symptoms and you suspect you have long COVID, Dr. Russo recommends doing your research to find a specialized center near you that treats these conditions. 바카라 게임 웹사이트There are an increasing number of post-COVID recovery centers,바카라 게임 웹사이트 he says. And, if you can find a current study of people with your long COVID symptoms, he suggests trying to get included. 바카라 게임 웹사이트It will not only enable you to be part of a solution, you can also be at the front end of some treatment modalities,바카라 게임 웹사이트 he says.