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A comprehensive state-of-the-art review published today in The Lancet has revealed the widespread impact of Long COVID, providing crucial insights into the condition's biological mechanisms and outlining key areas for future research.

In the new paper, researchers from the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, in collaboration with colleagues from the Universities of Leeds and Arizona, analysed dozens of previous studies into Long COVID to examine the number and range of people affected, the underlying mechanisms of disease, the many symptoms that patients develop, and current and future treatments.  

They found:

  • Long COVID affects approximately 1 in 50 people in UK and a similar or higher proportion in many other countries
  • People of any age, gender and ethnic background can be affected
  • Long COVID results from complex biological mechanisms, which lead to a wide range of symptoms including fatigue, cognitive impairment / ‘brain fog’, breathlessness and pain
  • Long COVID may persist for years, causing long-term disability
  • There is currently no cure, but research is ongoing
  • Risk of Long COVID can be reduced by avoiding infection (e.g., by ensuring COVIS vaccines and boosters are up to date and wearing a well-fitted high filtration mask) and taking antivirals promptly if infected

Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences website.