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What is
Long COVID?

Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as Long COVID.

Up to 400 million

people worldwide are affected with Long COVID1

$1 trillion of annual economic impact

About 1% of the global economy1

Long COVID affects

men, women, and
children too.

Long COVID: Millions are still sick

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) have defined Long COVID as “an infection-associated chronic condition (IACC) that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least 3 months as a continuous, relapsing and remitting, or progressive disease state that affects one or more organ systems”.

Long COVID can present with a variety of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. It can impact one or more systems, including the immune, cardiovascular, and neurological systems.

Millions are still sick, and they are waiting for answers.

Symptoms

Long COVID can include more than 200 symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms, like persistent fatigue, post-exertional malaise, brain fog, and sleep disturbance, are similar to those reported by people with ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) and other multi-system chronic complex diseases (msCCD).

Patients with Long COVID may also present with single or multiple symptoms of varying severity.

General Symptoms

Tiredness or fatigue

Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort

Fever

Neurological Symptoms

Difficulty thinking or concentrating

Headache

Sleep problems

Lightheadedness

Pins-and-needles feelings

Change in smell or taste

Depression or anxiety

Digestive Symptoms

Diarrhea

Stomach pain

Respiratory and Heart Symptoms

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)

Cough

Chest pain

Dysautonomia

Fast-beating or pounding heart

Other Symptoms

Joint or muscle pain

Rash

Changes in menstrual cycles

And more...

Diagnosis

Symptoms of Long COVID are often unexplained by routine testing, which can include blood tests, chest x-rays, and electrocardiograms. As a result, they may be misunderstood by healthcare providers, which causes a delay in diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

There is no specific test to diagnose Long COVID, so doctors usually consider a diagnosis of Long COVID based on health history, current symptoms, and a health examination. Based on the 2024 NASEM definition of Long COVID, diagnosis should especially take into account the onset and duration of symptoms.

 

 

OMF research into Long COVID

Solely funded by private donors

We knew this was coming! Back at the beginning of the pandemic, OMF secured a $1 million grant to launch an international study following those infected with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) as they either return to health or remain with symptoms months after being infected, now known as Long COVID. The purpose was to learn what is different in people who stay ill. This project is being conducted across the globe at our OMF-supported Collaborative Research Centers, spearheaded by some of the world’s top researchers and ME/CFS experts. Additional funds are needed to continue this critical study.

As the pandemic has continued, OMF has also expanded its portfolio of research investigating Long COVID:

  • Characterizing non-restorative sleep in post-viral disease to advance intervention innovations
  • Systems biology approaches to uncovering disease mechanism and drug repurposing for Long COVID
  • Multi-omic approaches to solve post-acute COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 syndrome

 

We all need this research now. We need your help today so that millions can return to good health tomorrow.

Download the

ME/CFS and Long COVID fact sheet

Pensive man leaning on a table. What is ME/CFS Fact sheet

Perfect for printing and sharing with your doctor or personal community.

Support OMF

Support Open Medicine Foundation’s quest to find effective treatments and diagnostic tests for the millions of people affected by these devastating diseases!

——————————–

Information about Long COVID provided from:

  1. Al-Aly, Z., et al. (2024). Long COVID science, research and policy. Nature Medicine, 30, 2148-2164. doi:10.1038/s41591-024-03173-6
  2. CDC: Center for Disease Control

 

Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. The information provided on this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME / CFS) Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS), Fibromyalgia Leading Research. Delivering Hope.Open Medicine Foundation®

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