A recent study from Italy highlights a significant decline in long-COVID symptoms seven months after the initial acute phase of the disease. Published in BMC Infectious Diseases, the research involved 853 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and outpatients who attended at least one follow-up appointment at San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, from February 2020 to June 2023.
The study found that the average age of participants was 62 years, and it revealed that 64.6% of individuals reported persistent COVID symptoms at three months post-infection, 36.4% at seven months, and 30.4% at 26 months. The predominant symptoms included fatigue, respiratory issues, brain fog, and chronic pain, along with the notable persistence of loss of smell and taste specifically in those who had the original strain of the virus in 2020.
The authors noted that while anosmia and dysgeusia were common shortly after recovery, fatigue and respiratory issues became the primary long-term symptoms. An interesting correlation identified in the study was that female sex and prolonged hospital stays were associated with ongoing symptoms, but the most significant factor linked to long COVID was being infected during the earliest waves of the pandemic. This group faced a higher risk of persistent post-COVID conditions (PCC), likely due to their lack of vaccination and the potential severity of their clinical presentation at that time.
The findings underscore the ongoing impact of COVID-19 even after initial recovery for many individuals, indicating a need for continued care and awareness regarding long-term effects. As we continue to learn more about long COVID, these insights may inform future healthcare approaches and treatment strategies for improving the quality of life for those affected.
This study offers hope as it documents a reduction in the long-term burden of COVID-19, suggesting that many patients may see an improvement in their symptoms with time.