In a Perspective, Nisreen Alwan discusses the challenges and potential implications of Long Covid – a collection of prolonged, persistent and often debilitating symptoms experienced by roughly one-third of those diagnosed with COVID-19. While much about the mechanisms and prognosis of Long Covid remains unknown, the author argues that reporting, recognizing and researching this emerging syndrome are essential to fully understand and address the pandemic and its long-lasting effects on public health. The risk of COVID-19 has been largely framed in terms of its mortality and hospitalization rate, with recovery and survival often conflated with each other. However, amidst the pandemic response, thousands of previously healthy and active people diagnosed with COVID-19 have described chronic symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection, persisting and/or developing weeks or months after onset. Due to a lack of formal recognition and diagnostic criteria for Long Covid by the medical community, much of what is known about the syndrome has been derived from the growing body of testimonials shared by those who suffer from it. Symptoms of Long Covid commonly include extreme fatigue and “brain fog.” A variety of other cardiopulmonary, neurocognitive and gastrointestinal symptoms have also been reported, all of which result in considerable socioeconomic disability and potentially long-lasting effects on mental health. Here, Alwan highlights what little is known about Long Covid and its potential drivers, arguing for more reporting, recognition and research. “It is unknown if or when many of those with Long Covid will recover, particularly given the relapsing nature of the illness,” writes Alwan. “Without knowing how many people remain ill following acute infection, the pandemic response will always be deficient because it will not account for the full impact of COVID-19.”
Science
The road to addressing Long Covid
30-Jul-2021