One-fifth of asymptomatic Covid patients develop long Covid, says study

Almost afifthofCovidpatientswithout symptoms went on to experience conditions consistent withlongCovida month after their initial diagnosis, according to a hugestudypublished Tuesday.

The analysis by non-profit FAIR Health encompassed insurance claims from 1.96 million Americans -- the largest population ofpatientsever studied forlongCovid-- from February 2020 to February 2021.

"Even as theCovid-19 pandemic wanes,long-haulCovidpersists as a public health issue affecting many Americans," said FAIR Health's President Robin Gelburd.

"The findings in our newstudyshed significant light on this emerging issue for all individuals who havelong-haulCovid, as well as for policymakers, providers, payers, and researchers."

Perils of 'LongCovid'

"LongCovid" refers to symptoms of the disease that persist more than four weeks after being diagnosed.

Thestudyfound that across all ages, the most common post-viral conditions were in order of frequency: pain, breathing difficulties, high cholesterol, general discomfort and fatigue, and high blood pressure.

The odds of dying 30 days or more after initially being diagnosed withCovidwere 46 times higher forpatientswho were hospitalised withCovidand discharged compared to those who weren't hospitalized.

Overall, 0.5 percent ofCovidpatientswho were hospitalized then discharged died 30 days or more after their initial diagnosis.

Nineteen percent ofasymptomaticCovidpatientsexperiencedlongCovidsymptoms 30 days out from their initial diagnosis; the figure grew to 27.5 percent ofCovidpatientswho were symptomatic but not hospitalized, and 50 percent of those who were hospitalised.

The order of most commonlongCovidconditions varied by age group -- for example in the pediatric population, intestinal issues replaced high cholesterol as the third most frequent.

MostlongCovidconditions were associated more with females than males -- but some, such as cardiac inflammation, were more common in males, who accounted for 52 per cent of cases against 48 per cent for females.

A quarter of all such cases occurred among individuals aged 19-29.

Among the four mental health conditions evaluated after 30 days, anxiety was the most common, followed by depression, adjustment disorders and tic disorder.

The biggest drawback of the newstudyis it lacks a control group of people who never gotCovid, which would help determine the extent to whichCovidcaused the conditions as opposed to being coincidental.

The causes oflongCovid, which is also known aslonghaulCovid, post-Covidsyndrome, or post-acute sequelae ofCovid, remain unknown.

"Theories include persistent immune activation after the acute phase; initial damage from the virus, such as damage to nerve pathways, that is slow to heal; and persistent presence of a low-level virus," thestudysaid.