Severity of disease predictive of long-Covid

Cape Town - The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has categorised recovered Covid-19 patients who continue to show symptoms for 28 days or more after the infection as long-Covid syndrome.

According to a statement released by the NICD, the common symptoms that persist include fatigue, cough, headaches and loss of smell.

A study in the UK reported that prolonged symptoms were present in 13% of its patients at one month, 5% of patients in month two and 2% at three months.

“The severity of the initial disease is also predictive of long‐Covid, with hospitalised patients and those with abnormal chest auscultation at presentation being more likely to have persistent symptoms at days 30 and 60,” read the NICD statement.

It further stated that some symptoms may only start for the first time three to four weeks after the infection and that patients affected should also consider the psychological symptoms of long-Covid, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

Meanwhile, Channel NewsAsia (CNA), a Singapore-based broadcaster, reported that around one in 10 recovered patients in Singapore suffer from long-Covid syndrome, according to a study of more than 280 patients conducted since January 2020.

CNA revealed that one survivor took eight months until she could feel normal again and continued to suffer from breathlessness and body aches.

“It is possible that the chronic inflammation may have some long-term consequences and increased risk of cardiovascular events such as strokes or heart inflammation or an increased risk of developing diabetes later,” said Dr Barnaby Young, a consultant for the National Centre for Infectious Diseases.

Cape Times