Study Reveals Persistence of Post-Exertional Malaise in Long Covid Patients
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A recent study found that more than 35% of individuals with persistent long Covid continue to experience post-exertional malaise even after two years of battling other major symptoms. The research also highlighted that 68% of long Covid patients struggle with fatigue, cognitive issues, breathlessness, and mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances.
The study, published in PLoS Medicine on January 23, 2025, focused on adults with long Covid in southwestern Germany, comparing them to a control group. Among the long Covid participants, 65% were women. The researchers conducted comprehensive assessments of cardiopulmonary and cognitive functions, along with detailed laboratory tests.
Interestingly, the study revealed that despite experiencing cognitive deficits and reduced exercise capacity, there was no evidence of viral persistence in long Covid patients. The authors noted that symptoms such as fatigue, exercise intolerance, and cognitive complaints persisted into the second year of illness without significant changes.
Moreover, the researchers observed a significant association between post-exertional malaise and more severe symptoms and objective signs of disease. They emphasized the prevalence of fatigue, neurocognitive disturbances, and chest symptoms as dominant clusters in persistent post-Covid syndrome.
Obesity emerged as a significant risk factor, with a higher proportion of participants with persistent long Covid falling into the obese category compared to the control group. The study indicated that 30.2% of long Covid patients were obese, highlighting the impact of weight on the severity of symptoms.
Post-exertional malaise, a hallmark symptom of long Covid, refers to a worsening of symptoms following physical or mental exertion that was previously manageable. This symptom tends to peak between 12 to 48 hours after activity and can persist for days or even weeks.
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, over 750 million cases and 6.8 million deaths have been reported globally. A significant portion of individuals who contracted the virus continue to experience long Covid symptoms, with approximately 14% of Covid-positive individuals in the US grappling with lingering effects.
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Title: The Rise of Remote Work: How Technology is Changing the Way We Work
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