“Approximately one in eight adult patients with coronavirus (rate 12.7%) subsequently developed long-term symptoms of the disease, according to a new large Dutch scientific study, published in the medical journal The Lancet. and is considered one of the most reliable today on the issue of the so-called.long Covid-19“.

Among patients diagnosed with Covid-19, 21.4% had at least one new or more severe symptom three to five months after initial infection with coronavirus than before infection, compared with 8.7% among people who did not have coronavirus. was diagnosed during the same period. control group for comparison).

This fact, according to Dutch scientists, leads to the conclusion that one eighth of the general population (about 13%) has long-term symptoms of Covid-19.

The main symptoms of long-term Covid-19, according to the study, are chest pain, shortness of breath, pain when breathing, muscle pain, loss of smell and/or taste, lump in the throat, tingling in the extremities, feeling excessively cold or hot, heaviness in the arms or legs and general fatigue. The above symptoms peaked in severity about three months after the initial infection and did not improve thereafter.

Other less frequent and severe symptoms were headaches, itchy eyes, dizziness, back pain, and nausea. However, the study did not include psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety.

Researchers led by Professor Judith Rosmalen from the University of Groningen analyzed data on 76,422 people, of which 4,231 (5.5%) were diagnosed with Covid-19. As they pointed out, “post-Covid-19 syndrome, also known as protracted Covid-19, is an ongoing problem with growing human exposure.”

Commenting on the Dutch study, Professor Christopher Brightling of the University of Leicester in the UK said that “based on the findings, the view is being strengthened that prolonged Covid-19 is common and can last at least two years, although its severe form occurs only in a minority.” .

Source: RES-IPE