THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF LONG COVID, with each form having its particular symptoms, according to research from Kings College, London (UK).
Today we explore this prospective study of over 335,000 subjects with regular health reports through the Covid Symptom Study (CSS) smartphone application.
What is long COVID?
Have you been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19? You probably have heard of long COVID, also known as chronic COVID or post-acute COVID-19.
I have not yet knowingly contracted the virus and have less fear about the acute problems associated with the virus (vaccinated and boosted, my odds of hospitalization, ICU admission, or death from COVID) are quite low. I am not in a high-risk population (yet: I have a big birthday next year, alas).
And yet I fear long COVID. Here’s what you need to know about it. Post-COVID conditions can include a wide range of continuing health problems, ones that last for weeks, months, or even years.
These problems can emerge even among those with mild or no initial symptoms from the novel coronavirus. Still, Post-COVID conditions are found more commonly in people with severe COVID-19 illness.
An Italian study discovered an association between older age, seasonal allergies, obstructive lung disease, and a higher body mass index BMI) and the chances of experiencing persistent COVID symptoms.
The long COVID odds appeared lower for:
- Men (about one-third lower odds).
- People with two vaccine doses (by 75 percent) or three vaccine doses (84 percent lower risk).
The study authors indicate that “infection confers only partial protection in the post-acute phase of the disease; hence, reliance on it as a sole mitigation strategy may not optimally reduce long-term health consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection.”
Writing in MedPage Today, Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, of Washington University in St. Louis, reminds us, “Everyone is at risk. The most optimal strategy is to avoid infection or reinfection in the first place.”
To be clear, most people who get COVID-19 get better within days to weeks. Four weeks after infection with the novel coronavirus is the start of when we can identify long COVID conditions.
Unfortunately, we have no test to diagnose post-COVID conditions. Because symptoms of long VOCID can overlap with those of other health conditions, diagnosis can sometimes be challenging.
Long COVID symptoms
Got long COVID? You may experience one or more of a wide range of symptoms. For some, the symptoms may resolve, only to come back. Some of the most common ones include:
- General. Fatigue that interferes with daily life may occur. Some experience fever, while others have worsening symptoms after physical or mental effort (a condition known as “post-exertional fatigue”).
- Heart and lung. Trouble breathing, cough, chest pain, or a fast-beating (or pounding) heart.
- Neurological. Some have brain fog or challenges thinking or concentrating. Others experience headaches, lightheadedness upon standing, changes in smell or taste, depression or anxiety, and sleep problems.
- Digestive. Stomach pain or diarrhea can occur.
- Other symptoms. Rash, joint or muscle pain, or changes in menstrual cycles can happen.
Some individuals, especially those with severe COVID-19, have multi-organ effects or autoimmune conditions. As a result, there is a higher risk of heart conditions, diabetes, or neurological conditions associated with long COVID than individuals who have not had an infection with the virus.
Three types of long COVID
King’s College London researchers have identified three profiles for long COVID based on long-term symptoms in the realms of respiratory neurological or other physical conditions.
In addition, they discovered patterns of long COVID based on the variant of the virus (original versus Alpha versus Delta).
Post-COVID syndrome is not one condition; rather, there appear to be several subtypes.
Scientists analyzed ZOE COVID app data for nearly 1,500 individuals who had symptoms for at least 12 weeks. The results are intriguing. Here are the long COVID types:
- Nervous system. The largest group of individuals suffering from long COVID had a cluster of nervous system symptoms. Many reported brain fog, fatigue, or headaches. The neurological symptom group appeared to be the most common, with the Alpha variant (dominant in winter 2020 to 2021) and Delta variant (dominant in 2021).
- Lungs. The second group had symptoms referable to the lungs, for example, severe shortness of breath or chest pain. This cluster of symptoms appeared dominant for the original coronavirus strain in the spring of 2020 when we had not yet vaccinated most individuals.
- Systemic/inflammatory. The third group of long COVID sufferers had a diverse range of physical symptoms, including muscle aches, skin and hair changes, and heart palpitations. This group had some of the most debilitating multi-organ symptoms.
The subtypes appeared similar in unvaccinated and vaccinated people, at least based on the variants examined. However, as I mentioned earlier, the risk of long COVID is reduced through vaccination.
Three types of long COVID — My take
I hope that a better understanding of these long COVID subtypes allows for better management strategies to mitigate the chronic effects of COVID. The research findings also remind clinicians that a personalized approach that recognizes the issues specific to a given patient is essential.
If you have COVID-19, the overall chances you will experience long COVID conditions vary:
- Thirteen percent at one month or longer after infection.
- 2.5 percent at three months or longer, based on self-reporting.
- More than 30 percent at six months for hospitalized patients.
Here is a checklist you can use before you see a doctor about long COVID:
https://drive.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https%3A//www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/post-covid-appointment/appointment-checklist.pdf&embedded=trueHealthcare appointment checklist for long COVID conditions.
Please stay safe. Thank you for joining me today in this look at the 3 types of long COVID.
The information I provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you seek medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. I am not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information in this blog.
