All the research
Long Covid Learning collects research from scientists worldwide and summarizes the findings to make takeaways more accessible to those outside the research community. Study summaries can be shared as links or images in messages and social media.
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Lung damage even without symptoms
Magnetic resonance images showed lung damage in children and adolescents after Covid infection in both those reporting Long Covid symptoms and those who do not. These children had both lower functional breathing volume and blood supply volume to the lungs compared with the never-infected healthy controls, which still persisted one year after infection.
Magnetic resonance images showed lung damage in children and adolescents after Covid infection in both those reporting Long Covid symptoms and those who do not.
These children had both lower functional breathing volume and blood supply volume to the lungs compared with the never-infected healthy controls, which still persisted one year after infection.
Source: Pulmonary Dysfunction after Pediatric COVID-19 | Radiology (rsna.org)
Persistent systemic infection for months
In people who died of Covid, the virus was found in various tissues throughout the body, including the brain, as late as 230 days following the symptom onset of an acute infection. In some patients, the virus can cause systemic infection and persist in the body for months. Among the other affected organs and tissues are the heart and blood vessels, lungs and the respiratory system, muscles, skin, thyroid, esophagus, spleen, appendix, adrenal glands, ovaries, testes, and womb.
In people who died of Covid, the virus was found in various tissues throughout the body, including the brain, as late as 230 days following the symptom onset of an acute infection.
In some patients, the virus can cause systemic infection and persist in the body for months. Among the other affected organs and tissues are the heart and blood vessels, lungs and the respiratory system, muscles, skin, thyroid, esophagus, spleen, appendix, adrenal glands, ovaries, testes, and womb.
Source: SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistence in the human body and brain at autopsy | Nature
Long-term heart and lung issues
Adults under 55 years old hospitalized for Covid continue to suffer from long-term heart and lung issues. Two months after being released from the hospital, about 8% of patients studied had pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure of the lungs), while 10% of them had a heart defect related to pulmonary hypertension. Including those who had borderline conditions inconsistent with their age, at least 1 in 5 were found to have abnormalities of either the heart or lungs.
Adults under 55 years old hospitalized for Covid continue to suffer from long-term heart and lung issues.
Two months after being released from the hospital, about 8% of patients studied had pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure of the lungs), while 10% of them had a heart defect related to pulmonary hypertension. Including those who had borderline conditions inconsistent with their age, at least 1 in 5 were found to have abnormalities of either the heart or lungs.
77% affected 12 months later
12 months after mostly mild Covid infections, only 23% were symptom-free. Patients reported significantly reduced physical and mental quality of life from symptoms like reduced exercise capacity (56%), fatigue (53%), breathing problems (38%), and trouble concentrating (40%) and finding words (32%). Researchers also found signs of the immune system attacking healthy cells.
12 months after mostly mild Covid infections, only 23% were symptom-free.
Patients reported significantly reduced physical and mental quality of life from symptoms like reduced exercise capacity (56%), fatigue (53%), breathing problems (38%), and trouble concentrating (40%) and finding words (32%). Researchers also found signs of the immune system attacking healthy cells.
Damage to multiple organs
59% of those with Long Covid — most of whom were not hospitalized at the time of infection — were found to have suffered organ damage (spanning heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and spleen) in a longitudinal and prospective study. Organ impairment and symptoms like fatigue, breathlessness and cognitive dysfunction continued to have high prevalence after 12 months, with significant impact on quality-of-life.
59% of those with Long Covid — most of whom were not hospitalized at the time of infection — were found to have suffered organ damage (spanning heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and spleen) in a longitudinal and prospective study.
Organ impairment and symptoms like fatigue, breathlessness and cognitive dysfunction continued to have high prevalence after 12 months, with significant impact on quality-of-life.
Source: Multi-organ impairment and Long COVID: a 1-year prospective, longitudinal cohort study | medRxiv
Serious conditions in kids
After Covid infection, children have twice the risk of acute pulmonary embolisms (blood clots that move to the lungs), venous thromboembolic events (clotting in veins), and myocarditis or cardiomyopathy (inflammation of the heart). Rates of sudden kidney failure and type 1 diabetes are 20-30% higher.
After Covid infection, children have twice the risk of acute pulmonary embolisms (clots moving to the lungs), venous thromboembolic events (clotting in veins), and myocarditis or cardiomyopathy (inflammation of the heart).
Rates of sudden kidney failure and type 1 diabetes are 20-30% higher.