17 September
A new analysis suggests that long covid affects 6 per cent of people who experience symptoms
Long covid appears to affect between 3 to 11.7 per cent of people infected by the coronavirus, according to an analysis by the UK Office for National Statistics that used several different approaches to gauge the prevalence of the chronic condition. According to the analysis, as many as 17.7 per cent of people who had symptomatic covid-19 infections self-report as experiencing long covid 12 weeks later, but the proportion of symptomatic cases who experience at least one ONS-defined long covid symptoms continuously for 12 weeks or more is lower, at 6.7 per cent.
In April, the ONS published a study suggesting that 13.7 per cent of people who test positive for covid go on to experience some symptoms for 12 weeks or longer. Now, the ONS has used several approaches to get a more detailed look at how common long covid is.
The new study found that, when looking across people who test positive for covid-19 – regardless of whether they had symptoms or not during their initial infection – long covid appears to be less common than previously thought. Among those in the study who tested positive for covid-19, 5 per cent reported one or more of 12 common symptoms 12 to 16 weeks after infection. However, 3.4 per cent of people in the control group also reported such symptoms, suggesting that the coronavirus may not be to blame in the majority of cases.
The prevalence of long covid seemed to drop even further – to 3 per cent – when the analysis focussed on people who’d tested positive who then experienced symptoms continuously for at least 12 weeks. This compares to 0.5 per cent in the control group. But the analysis estimates that 11.7 per cent of people who’d tested positive would describe themselves as experiencing long covid 12 weeks after infection, and that 7.5 per cent of people would say that long covid is limiting their day-to-day activities.
However, the ONS estimates suggest that long covid is more common among people who experience symptoms during their initial covid infection. When asymptomatic cases were removed from the analysis, the prevalence of long covid went up. The study found that 6.7 per cent of people who had symptomatic infections went on to experience one or more of 12 common symptoms continuously for at least 12 weeks. As for self-reported long covid, 17.7 per cent of people who’d had symptomatic infections described themselves as experiencing long covid 12 weeks after infection, and 11.8 per cent said that this was limiting their day-to-day activities.
The analysis also confirmed that long covid is most common in women, adults aged 50 to 69, and in people with other health conditions. Those who show signs of a high viral load during their initial infection are also more likely to experience long covid.
Other coronavirus news
Around 3000 healthcare workers who haven’t been vaccinated for covid-19 have been suspended in France. A new rule came into force on 15 September that makes vaccination mandatory for 2.7 million frontline staff.
Italy is planning to make it mandatory for most public and private workers to have a “green pass” that indicates that a person has been fully vaccinated, recently recovered from the coronavirus, or recently tested negative for it. Since August, a green pass has been necessary for accessing most leisure activities in the country.
The army may be called upon to help Scotland’s ambulance service, which is under “acute pressure”, first minister Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday.
Use our covid-19 dashboard to stay up to date with deaths, cases, and vaccination rates around the world.
source go to 17 September in link
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-...n-england/
A new analysis suggests that long covid affects 6 per cent of people who experience symptoms
Long covid appears to affect between 3 to 11.7 per cent of people infected by the coronavirus, according to an analysis by the UK Office for National Statistics that used several different approaches to gauge the prevalence of the chronic condition. According to the analysis, as many as 17.7 per cent of people who had symptomatic covid-19 infections self-report as experiencing long covid 12 weeks later, but the proportion of symptomatic cases who experience at least one ONS-defined long covid symptoms continuously for 12 weeks or more is lower, at 6.7 per cent.
In April, the ONS published a study suggesting that 13.7 per cent of people who test positive for covid go on to experience some symptoms for 12 weeks or longer. Now, the ONS has used several approaches to get a more detailed look at how common long covid is.
The new study found that, when looking across people who test positive for covid-19 – regardless of whether they had symptoms or not during their initial infection – long covid appears to be less common than previously thought. Among those in the study who tested positive for covid-19, 5 per cent reported one or more of 12 common symptoms 12 to 16 weeks after infection. However, 3.4 per cent of people in the control group also reported such symptoms, suggesting that the coronavirus may not be to blame in the majority of cases.
The prevalence of long covid seemed to drop even further – to 3 per cent – when the analysis focussed on people who’d tested positive who then experienced symptoms continuously for at least 12 weeks. This compares to 0.5 per cent in the control group. But the analysis estimates that 11.7 per cent of people who’d tested positive would describe themselves as experiencing long covid 12 weeks after infection, and that 7.5 per cent of people would say that long covid is limiting their day-to-day activities.
However, the ONS estimates suggest that long covid is more common among people who experience symptoms during their initial covid infection. When asymptomatic cases were removed from the analysis, the prevalence of long covid went up. The study found that 6.7 per cent of people who had symptomatic infections went on to experience one or more of 12 common symptoms continuously for at least 12 weeks. As for self-reported long covid, 17.7 per cent of people who’d had symptomatic infections described themselves as experiencing long covid 12 weeks after infection, and 11.8 per cent said that this was limiting their day-to-day activities.
The analysis also confirmed that long covid is most common in women, adults aged 50 to 69, and in people with other health conditions. Those who show signs of a high viral load during their initial infection are also more likely to experience long covid.
Other coronavirus news
Around 3000 healthcare workers who haven’t been vaccinated for covid-19 have been suspended in France. A new rule came into force on 15 September that makes vaccination mandatory for 2.7 million frontline staff.
Italy is planning to make it mandatory for most public and private workers to have a “green pass” that indicates that a person has been fully vaccinated, recently recovered from the coronavirus, or recently tested negative for it. Since August, a green pass has been necessary for accessing most leisure activities in the country.
The army may be called upon to help Scotland’s ambulance service, which is under “acute pressure”, first minister Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday.
Use our covid-19 dashboard to stay up to date with deaths, cases, and vaccination rates around the world.
source go to 17 September in link
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-...n-england/
