Long Covid: More than 2,000,000 in England may have suffered

Health & Diet Health & Diet: In The News
, ,
1

A survey of half a million adults in England suggests around 2,000,000 people may have had some long-lasting symptoms after having coronavirus - sometimes known as “long Covid”.

The React study shows about a third of people who report they have coronavirus symptoms have one or more symptoms that persist for at least 12 weeks. Researchers say managing the long-term consequences are a “major challenge”.

Long Covid is an emerging phenomenon that is not yet fully understood, and there is no universally-agreed definition. It covers a broad range of symptoms after an initial Covid infection, including fatigue, coughs, chest pain, headaches and muscle pain.

During the study, which took place between September 2020 and February 2021, a random sample of people were asked whether they had had Covid-19 (confirmed or suspected), and about the presence and duration of 29 different symptoms.

The self-reported survey found:

[LIST]
[]Some 37% of people who said they had Covid experienced at least one symptom lasting 12 weeks or more
[]Almost 15% said they had three or more symptoms for at least 12 weeks
[]Long-term problems were more common in women, and with increasing age
[]Higher weight, smoking, lower incomes, having a chronic illness and being hospitalised with Covid were linked to a higher chance of experiencing long-lasting symptoms
[*]Tiredness was one of the most common symptoms, and in people who were severely ill with Covid, shortness of breath was a dominant long-lasting symptom
[/LIST]

Researchers accept that they did not compare their set of results to people who did not have Covid, as some of these symptoms may be down to other illnesses or conditions. They also say there is a need for more studies to build on the emerging evidence.

Meanwhile, another study conducted by University College London and King’s College London found one in six middle-aged people who reported being infected with coronavirus said they had long Covid symptoms. This fell to one in 13 among younger adults.

The government has provided £50m for research into long Covid. The NHS has opened more than 80 long Covid assessment services across England. *

An earlier assessment put the number of “long covid” sufferers in the low hundred thousands but that was some time ago and more information is obviously available nowadays.

Coronavirus: Specialist ‘long Covid’ clinics to be set up in England

An ONS report in April put the number at 1,100,000.

Long Covid: More than a million affected in February, survey suggests

The report is a stark reminder of a “hidden” cost of COVID - a decline in personal health for millions - an effect which may be temporary or long-term … :shock:

  • Patently, these “contributions” will be totally inadequate … :!:
2

‘Long Covid cases under-reported’ in GP records

Although diagnostic codes for logging long Covid were first published at the end of 2020, the Open-Safely study, in the British Journal of General Practice found that more than a quarter of GP practices (26%) had not used the codes at all.

The researchers suggest that some patients may have not contacted their GPs because of concerns they were busy, GPs and patients may have varying thresholds for considering the condition and some GPs may not yet be familiar with the diagnostic codes.

I wouldn’t be surprised if many “long covid” sufferers are just “fobbed off” by the almighty GP receptionists … :roll:

3

Long Covid funding to unearth new treatments

Thousands of people with “long Covid” could benefit from the funding of 15 new studies of the condition, its causes and potential treatments.

Researchers from across the UK will investigate everything from brain fog to ongoing breathlessness, using a new technique to detect hidden lung damage.

They will be backed by £20m from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the new research was “absolutely essential to improve diagnosis and treatments” and would be life-changing for those battling the long-term symptoms of the virus.

He said it would build on the 80 long Covid assessment centres open in England.

Obviously, a very welcome grant but more like it is needed … :slight_smile:

4

Yawwwwwn!

5

11 AUGUST 2021

Employers should look at it on a case-by-case basis – the test for disability is a legal test looking at medical evidence – where someone has physical or mental impairment with substantial long term effects which impacts on their ability to carry out daily activities such as shopping, reading, walking, social activities and household tasks.

The long-term question is the other part of a disability test – have the symptoms lasted for 12 months or more? Given that the pandemic is still current, some may not have reached this period yet so a calculation of whether it is likely to recur, which can be a characteristic of long covid, will need to be considered.

Employers are urged to get medical advice because it is a new condition and is complex – seek advice from the employee’s GP or occupational health provider.

Employers should maintain clear communication as they navigate this new, potentially sensitive road ahead.

Indeed … and employees should be cognizant of their rights, too … :024:

6

The Mercedes driver, 36, was forced to seek medical attention after feeling dizzy in the aftermath of his frenetic drive from last to third at the concluding round before the summer break in Hungary nearly four weeks ago.

Of course, there will be some who say that Hamilton is suffering from no such thing as " long covid" but that would make him a fraud and a liar … :scream_cat:

7

Update:

2 million people in the UK had long COVID symptoms

1 June 2022

An estimated 2.0 million people (3.1%) in the UK said they were suffering long COVID symptoms four weeks after they first suspected they had the virus, as of 1 May 2022.

Of people who said they had long COVID, 22% (442,000) first had it less than 12 weeks earlier, while 72% (1.4 million) first reported they had it at least 12 weeks earlier.

19% of people who reported long COVID symptoms had it for at least two years previously. Self-reported long COVID symptoms affected the day-to-day activities of 71% (1.4 million) people, with 20% (398,000) reporting that their ability to undertake their day-to-day activities had been “limited a lot”.

Fatigue continued to be the most commonly-reported symptom as part of individuals’ experience of long COVID (55% of those with self-reported long COVID), followed by shortness of breath (32%), cough (23%), and muscle ache (23%).