‘We’re all vulnerable’: One in 10 people will end up with long COVID, new study says
By Ashleigh McMillan. The Age, January 16, 2023
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According to the report, published on Friday in the academic journal Nature Reviews Microbiology, at least 65 million people worldwide already have long COVID, or post-COVID conditions, which is when symptoms persist for more than 12 weeks after the initial infection…
It is estimated more than 10 per cent of those who catch COVID-19 will experience chronic health issues, with women aged between 30 and 55 particularly at risk.
Long COVID’s symptoms vary but can include severe fatigue, brain impairment and nervous system dysfunction, as well as nausea and shortness of breath…
An analysis by the US Department of Veterans Affairs of 150,000 people showed they had an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure and stroke just one year after catching COVID-19, regardless of how severe the initial infection was…[end quote]
Long Covid in working-age people who had only mild Covid can have Macroeconomic impact since it reduces the work force during a time of tight labor markets.
It’s only recently that viral-associated health problems, like myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and dysautonomia, a disorder of the autonomic nervous system, have been accepted as “real” disorders instead of psychosomatic disorders. Long Covid may have a similar etiology.
Those with long COVID often have “exhausted” or reduced levels of T cells, white blood cells involved in the immune response that target antigens, which are easily measured.
Long Covid will take a lot of study. How severe? How long does it last? Who becomes chronic and how long are they affected? How can it be measured if the patient claims symptoms but the low-hanging fruit (T-cell levels) return to normal?
Everyone knows that Covid killed (and still kills) old people much more than young people. Currently, deaths in people under 60 are negligible, less than 2 per 100,000.
But the casual approach to Covid may have long-lasting impacts if many younger people with mild Covid cases develop long Covid. People have caught Covid multiple times and the chance of long Covid doesn’t go away.
Here’s an article about what it’s like to live with chronic fatigue syndrome. Work a full-time job – fuggedaboutit.
Wendy