According to two new studies conducted on a large panel, the long covid would have an end: the majority of symptoms resolve in the first year. If we do not yet know exactly why some people are victims of this long covid, the prospect of a time limit remains good news.
Fatigue, loss of sense of smell, shortness of breath… For 2 million French people affected by Covid (according to figures from Public Health France), the infection went into overtime and left traces of its passage for weeks, even months. A disabling but also depressing situation for many. But new data now allow us to take a step back: the long covid does come to an end, and the vast majority of symptoms resolve within a year of infection.
Even long, moderate covid does not lead to morbidity
In April 2022, a French study had already come to the conclusion that 90% of the symptoms of long covid (about sixty symptoms are listed!) disappear in the first year. Today, a new Israeli study conducted on 300,000 Israelis who tested positive for Covid 19 confirms this observation.
Published in the British Medical Journal, the study announces as well as according to their observations, a moderate covid-19 “does not cause serious or chronic long-term morbidity”. Better, most of the symptoms suffered by patients with long Covid “stayed for several months and returned to normal within the first year” after infection.
In both studies, the most persistent symptoms were dyspnoea (shortness of breath), fatigue or weakness, followed by loss of taste and smell (dysgeusia and anosmia). The Israeli study also adds concentration and memory problems, streptococcal tonsillitis (infections of the tonsils with strep-like bacteria) and dizziness.
The Israeli study also points to the effect of vaccination: among vaccinated Israelis, the risk of dyspnea, one of the most common symptoms, was lower.
“Good news that helps to de-dramatize”
For Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo, when it comes to Covid, it is also good to also disseminate positive information, so as not only to relay anxiety-provoking data.
“The problem with this long Covid is that we still do not know what defines this period: there are probably immunological problems, autoimmunity problems, perhaps also viral reactivations or even d other things unrelated to the Covid. But this study is still good news: we have to stop dramatizing the situation because anticipating, always telling people “Be careful, you risk a long covid” also has a “nocebo” effect, which puts the morale flat. And we know that the nocebo effect leads to stress, which also promotes symptoms. So when there is good news, it is important to relay it”.