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Almost three quarters of people admitted to a hospital with coronavirus suffer ongoing symptoms three months later, a study has found.
Most of the patients report improvements in their initial symptoms of fever, cough and loss of sense of smell. Yet the study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting ‘long Covid’ is a problem.
Researchers found 81 out of 110 patients discharged from Southmead Hospital in Bristol were still experiencing symptoms such as breathlessness, excessive fatigue and muscle aches when invited back to clinic three months later.
Many were also suffering from poor quality of life compared to the rest of the population, struggling to carry out daily tasks such as washing, dressing or going back to work.
The findings are part of the preliminary results of the North Bristol NHS Trust’s Discover project, which is studying the longer-term effects of coronavirus, so-called ‘long Covid’.
“There’s still so much we don’t know about the long-term effects of coronavirus, but this study has given us vital new insight into what challenges patients may face in their recovery and will help us prepare for those needs,” said Dr Rebecca Smith, deputy director of research and innovation at North Bristol NHS Trust.
A total of 163 patients with coronavirus were recruited to the study, which was funded by the Southmead Hospital Charity, and of those 19 died. The remainder were invited for a three-month check-up and 110 attended.
Most (74%) had persistent symptoms – notably breathlessness and excessive fatigue – with reduced health-related quality of life.
Previous research from the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust also identified fatigue, breathlessness and psychological distress – including problems with concentration and memory – as the most common symptoms of long covid.
“The emerging evidence is that for some, the road to recovery may take months and it is vital specialist rehabilitation is on hand to support them,” said Dr Manoj Sivan, who worked on the study.
HuffPost UK has previously spoken to people with suspected long Covid. “I constantly feel like my body is fighting a virus and go to bed hoping for a better day,” said Deborah Foley, 50, from London, after 16 weeks of symptoms. “Sometimes I sleep and other times gasping for air keeps me awake.”
Tereza, a 36-year-old from Scotland, who chose not to share her surname, added: “It turned my life upside down. I was a healthy 36-year-old, hoping to start a family this year. But when I became ill, I felt like I was in a car accident, and then got hit by a bus.”
