Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
Long Covid recovery rates differ sharply by symptom pattern, study finds
A US study followed 1,019 adults with probable long Covid who still had symptoms a year after infection.
Over the next three years, about half had sustained improvement and roughly a quarter had complete remission.
Recovery differed sharply by symptom pattern: about 60% with smell or taste changes improved, compared with fewer than 19% of people with symptoms affecting multiple body systems.
Long Covid can involve fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, heart palpitations and worsening symptoms after activity, and there is no approved treatment.
The study counted improvement when a person’s symptom score stayed below a long Covid threshold at two consecutive visits.
Researchers and outside experts noted that the score may not capture lasting recovery well, because symptoms can fluctuate and the measure has not been independently validated in other populations.
The findings suggest that people with multi-system symptoms may recover less often, but how recovery is defined remains an unresolved issue.
A US study found that long Covid recovery rates varied sharply by symptom pattern.
Fewer than 19% of participants with symptoms affecting multiple body systems improved within three years.
About 60% of those whose illness mainly affected smell or taste improved over the same period.
Across all 1,019 participants, about half had sustained symptom improvement and roughly a quarter had complete remission.
Experts said the study’s recovery measure may not capture lasting recovery, because symptoms can fluctuate and the scoring system has not been independently validated.
- Who
- Researchers followed 1,019 adults who still had probable long Covid a year after infection.
- What
- A study found that improvement rates differed greatly by symptom pattern.
- When
- Published on Nov. 2; participants were followed for three years after they had long Covid for a year.
- Where
- The study was conducted in the United States.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers followed 1,019 adults who still had probable long Covid.
About half experienced sustained symptom improvement, while roughly a quarter had complete symptom remission.
The study was published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
- Participants
- 1,019 adults
- Multi-system symptoms
- Fewer than 19% improved by three years
- Smell or taste symptoms
- About 60% improved by three years
- Overall sustained improvement
- About half of participants
- Complete symptom remission
- Roughly a quarter of participants
What people are saying
This is the real long Covid that will endure, and these patients do not appear to show a robust trajectory of recovery.