Younger ‘long Covid’ victims suffer multiple organ damage: Health issues can linger for up to four months after coronavirus infection even for those at low-risk from the illness, study shows
- Study of patients with ‘long Covid’ shows almost 70% have damage to an organ
- More than 60,000 Britons are thought to be affected by long-lasting symptoms
- The data sheds light on the impact of the virus on people deemed low-risk
Younger patients with ‘long Covid’ can suffer damage to multiple organs four months after infection, according to a study.
More than 60,000 Britons are thought to be affected by long-lasting symptoms of Covid-19, including fatigue, breathlessness and pain.
The study sheds light on the impact of the virus on people deemed low-risk.
Early data from the report by Coverscan has shown almost 70 per cent have damage to one or more organs including the heart and lungs.
A study of patients with ‘long Covid’ shows almost 70% have damage to one or more organs
Associate professor Amitava Banerjee, of University College London, said 25 per cent of patients had damage to two or more organs.
She added: ‘This is of interest because we need to know if [the impairments] continue or improve – or if there is a sub-group of people who could get worse.’
Out of the 201 patients in the study, 197 said they suffered fatigue, 176 muscle ache and 166 headaches.
In some patients there was a connection between the symptoms and damaged organs.
More than 60,000 Britons are thought to be affected by long-lasting symptoms of Covid-19, including fatigue, breathlessness and pain
Heart or lung damage was linked to breathlessness while liver and pancreas impairments were associated with gastrointestinal symptoms.
None of the patients was scanned before developing Covid-19, meaning some of them may have had pre-existing conditions. The average age was 44.
Yesterday, the NHS announced it is opening 40 long Covid clinics this month to assess physical and psychological symptoms.
NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: ‘Long Covid is already having a very serious impact on many people’s lives and could well go on to affect hundreds of thousands.’