Written by Kate Pickles, Health Editor, Daily Mail
Updated September 25, 2023 23:30, September 26, 2023 00:12
- Experts say there are more than 200 symptoms associated with this condition.
- They added that the lack of definition could further increase public anxiety.
- Read more: Harvard and Yale scientists investigate new condition ‘Long Vax’
Experts say the risk of long-term COVID-19 infection has been “hugely exaggerated” and that more than 200 symptoms have been linked to the virus.
Significant research flaws have distorted the true severity of symptoms, leading to misdiagnosis and increased public anxiety.
They decried the definition as too broad and criticized the lack of appropriate comparison groups in studies investigating the incidence, prevalence, and control of the condition.
As a result, researchers said, misdiagnosis of a wide range of post-COVID-19 symptoms is widespread, compromising patient care.
Scientists from the UK, US and Denmark reviewed the definitions of long coronavirus by a number of world health organizations, including the National Institute for Healthcare Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
They found that new symptoms that develop after a confirmed or suspected Covid infection can be considered consistent with long-term Covid, resulting in more than 200 symptoms associated with it.
Most people infected with COVID-19 feel better within a few days or weeks, but for some people symptoms can last for 12 weeks or more.
People with long-term illness from COVID-19 (also known as post-COVID-19 acute sequelae (PASC)) report feeling tired, foggy, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
The research team argued that this symptom is common to many upper respiratory viruses.
They also noted that studies in the early stages of the pandemic likely included patients with mild or asymptomatic symptoms, which may have led to sampling bias.
This occurs when certain groups are more likely to be included in a study than others, limiting the results.
They write in the BMJ’s “Evidence-Based Medicine”: “Our analysis shows that in addition to including appropriately matched controls, better case definitions and more stringent (long COVID-19) criteria are needed. Continued symptoms after confirmation should also be included.’ Considering CoV-2 infection, baseline characteristics, including physical and mental health, that may contribute to an individual’s post-COVID-19 experience should be included. I will consider it. ”
The paper states that future studies should include an adequate follow-up period after infection as well as an appropriately matched control group.
They called for internationally established diagnostic criteria and for research that avoids blanket terminology and instead narrowly defines specific post-COVID-19 symptoms.
“Ultimately, biomedicine must aim to help all those who suffer,” the research team added. “To do so, we need to apply the best scientific methods and analysis.
“Inappropriate definitions and flawed methods do not help the people medicine is trying to help.
“Improving evidence generation standards is an ideal way to take long-term COVID-19 seriously, improve outcomes, and avoid the risk of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.”
The researchers warn that a lack of definitions could lead to higher healthcare costs and public anxiety, as well as misdiagnosis and the diversion of funds from patients with other long-term conditions. did.