Scientists have uncovered 55 long term effects of having COVD-19, even for those who experienced mild symptoms, according to a report published in Nature’s Scientific Reports.
The lingering effects are worse for those hospitalised for the virus, even after getting a clean bill from doctors.
The study reviewed thousands of publications for studies of longterm COVID effects.
The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 47,910 patients, ages 17 to 87.
The most common long-term side effect, they found, is fatigue, affecting 58% of people in the study.
Here are the 25 most common long COVID symptoms, according to the meta-analysis:
Fatigue (58%)
Headaches (44%)
Attention disorder (27%)
Hair loss (25%)
Dyspnea, or difficulty breathing (24%)
Ageusia, or loss of taste (23%)
Anosmia, or loss of smell (21%)
Post-activity polypnea, or heavy breathing/panting/sweating (21%)
Joint pain (19%)
Cough (19%)
Sweat (17%)
Nausea or vomiting (16%)
Chest pain (16%)
Memory loss (16%)
Hearing loss or ringing in the ears (15%)
Anxiety (13%)
Depression (12%)
Digestive disorders (12%)
Weight loss (12%)
Cutaneous signs, or skin and dermatological issues (12%)
Increase in resting heart rate (11%)
Palpitations (11%)
Pain (11%)
Intermittent fever (11%)
Sleep disorder (11%)
The 30 other long COVID symptoms identified are less common, and include everything from psychiatric disorders to kidney failure. (Read the full list here.)
The study included side effects reported anywhere from 14 days to 110 days after infection.
In another study in the UK, scientists found 25% of people between 35 and 69 years old still had symptoms five weeks after diagnosis.
A study out of Italy found 87% of people hospitalized were still struggling two months after release. – Agency report.
