LONDON – At least two million people in England would have suffered or would suffer from “Long Covid”, ie persistent or hitherto irreversible symptoms linked to the Coronavirus disease, and the incidence appears to be higher in women and the elderly. It is the projection of a vast and worrying study of the REACT-2 (REal-time Assessment of Community Transmission) program linked to Imperial College London and published today.
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by our correspondent Federico Rampini
The REACT program conducted its research on 508,707 British adults between September 2020 and February 2021. At least a fifth of them had already experienced Covid symptoms earlier than when they contracted the disease, and a third of the latter group reported that at least either of these symptoms lasted persistently and for at least 12 weeks. While in one tenth of those who previously had coronavirus symptoms, these symptoms were severe, as well as persisting for a period of at least 12 weeks, such as extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, irregular palpitations, difficulty concentrating, loss of smell. / taste, etc.
Therefore, translating this study on a national projection in England (not in the whole of the United Kingdom), 5.8% of the adult population would have suffered or would still suffer from symptoms of Long Covid, i.e. long-lasting Coronavirus, or about two million of people. While for 2% of the population, or about 650 thousand citizens, these would be of a serious nature. Rather worrying numbers especially if you think about the recent spread of the Delta variant of the Coronavirus, especially among young people and those not fully, or at all, vaccinated.
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According to the REACT study, then, the symptoms of long Covid would increase by 3.5% for every ten years of age of the patient. Furthermore, the scholars have noted that the symptoms occur more frequently in women than in men (higher incidence of 1.5% for the female sample), but also in those who are overweight or obese, smokers, those who live in residential areas. depressed or who has been hospitalized for Coronavirus. While, curiously, Long Covid seems less frequent in people of Asian ethnicity in England.
The Guardian today he speaks of a borderline case, but unfortunately not isolated, of Long Covid. A 72-year-old from Bristol, Dave Smith, after contracting the Coronavirus for the first time, tested positive 41 more times and was hospitalized seven times.
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