More than a million people in the UK are suffering from long Covid, with fears the number could rise due to the Omicron variant. Many patients say they only had a mild initial infection but it went on to ruin their health, social lives and finances, reports BBC.
About the ICP study
Prof Amitava Banerjee, from University College London, is leading the two-year STIMULATE-ICP study which will recruit 4,500 patients from six long Covid clinics.
Existing drugs will be trialled to work out their effectiveness, including anti-histamines, such as the hay fever treatment loratadine. Anti-clotting drugs like rivaroxaban and the anti-inflammatory drug colchicine will also be tested.
Long COVID
Cardiologist Prof Banerjee is concerned that the current number of infections will result in more people suffering with long Covid.
Many patients developed it after a mild infection, he says, so he is not reassured that the Omicron variant may produce less severe initial illness.
“We know that people who were not hospitalised with acute Covid have gone on and been more impaired and we should be concerned about that,” he says.
What is long Covid?
Long Covid covers a broad range of symptoms including fatigue, coughs, headaches and muscle pain. Most people who get coronavirus feel better in a few days or weeks but symptoms can last longer for some, even after a mild infection.
Women and those aged 35-49 are most likely to report long-term symptoms
Some 40,000 healthcare workers in the UK are estimated to have long Covid
NHS England has invested £134m to support those with long Covid and opened 90 dedicated clinics across England
How to prevent long COVID?
Vaccines are undeniably helping prevent death and severe illness but scientists do not know yet if they protect against long Covid, he says.
Many young people with long Covid have not been able to return to work, he adds, and this has had a major impact on their health, wellbeing and the economy.
He believes the best way to prevent it is to “avoid getting infected in the first place and keep the infection rate down”, which will not be achieved with a vaccine-only approach, he says.
The Department of Health and Social Care has been asked for a response to Prof Banerjee’s comments.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe
Source: BBC
