Under the title "A Study Raises Alarm in Britain... Over Two Million Suffered," Sky News published a report on one of the largest surveys related to the Coronavirus on Thursday. The study concluded that more than two million people in England may have suffered from long COVID, experiencing one or more symptoms for at least 12 weeks.
The study, conducted by a team led by Imperial College London, found that more than a third of individuals who contracted COVID-19 reported symptoms lasting at least 12 weeks, while one in ten reported severe symptoms persisting for that duration. Paul Elliott, the program director at the university, stated, "The results we found paint a concerning picture regarding the long-term health consequences of COVID-19, which must be considered when formulating policies and planning."
The government-supported study was based on self-reported data from 508,707 adults between September 2020 and February 2021. Symptoms varied from fatigue and muscle pain to shortness of breath and chest pain. The researchers noted that the study might have overestimated the prevalence of long COVID, as such symptoms are common and do not always correlate with COVID-19.
The findings also indicated that older individuals might be more susceptible to long COVID, with a 3.5% increase in risk for every 10 years of age. There was a higher prevalence of persistent symptoms among women, smokers, those with excess weight, residents in deprived areas, and hospitalized patients, while it was lower among individuals of Asian ethnicity.
Health Minister Matt Hancock remarked that "long COVID could have a lasting and debilitating impact on the lives of those affected." He added, "Such studies help us understand the impact of the condition rapidly, and we are using these findings and other new research to develop support and treatment."
