In a study, the presence of more than five symptoms of Covid 19 within the first week of getting infection could lead to the development of a long Covid period.
Impact Of Acute Covid 19 Infections On Patients Extends Beyond Hospitalisation; Study
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Birmingham. They conducted a review that examined long Covid 19 symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle pain, headache, joint pain, altered smell, altered taste, diarrhoea, and cough. The team further identified two main symptoms that could cluster long Covid 19 infection in the patients. It comprises exclusively of fatigue, headache, and upper respiratory concerns. Along with those multi-system complaints including prolonged fever and gastroenterological symptoms.
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The findings are published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
The lead author Olalekan Lee Aiyegbusi, Deputy Director at the University’s Centre for Patient-Reported Outcomes Research said that they have found evidence that shows the impact of acute Covid 19 on patients regardless of severity may extend beyond the hospitalization. And in the most severe cases, it may affect the quality of life, mental health, and employment issues.
“More than one-third of the patients in one of the studies included in the review reported they still felt ill or in a worse clinical condition at eight weeks than at the onset of Covid-19,” Aiyegbusi added.
Patients With Longer Covid 19 Infections Had Reduced Lung Function and Exercise Capacity
The research further suggests that as compared to the other Covid 19 variants, patients with long Covid may experience similar diseases to the patients who had SARS or MERS. Furthermore, people who were hospitalized, at least 25 percent of them, suffered reduced lung function and exercise capacity.
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Shamil Haroon, Clinical Lecturer in Primary Care and co-Principal Investigator for the study said that regardless of biological or immunological mechanisms of long Covid nor for the ones who are more susceptible to the effects, the development of therapies may be limited. Following this, it is essential to address the issues.
