Long COVID symptom profile may differ depending on variant of infection

New data from Italy suggests that long-COVID symptoms may differ depending on the SARS-CoV-2 variant that caused the initial infection and illness. “Many of the symptoms reported in this study have been measured, but this is the first time they have been linked to different COVID-19 variants,” said lead researcher Dr. Michele Spinicci. Dr. Spinicci and colleagues from University of Florence and Careggi University Hospital in Italy and colleagues analyzed data from 428 patients who were treated in the hospital’s post-COVID clinic between June 2020 and June 2021. The patients had all been previously hospitalized with COVID-19 and completed a survey on their symptoms a median of 53 days post-discharge. Patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 when the Alpha variant was the dominant strain reported more myalgia, insomnia, brain fog and anxiety or depression as long COVID symptoms compared to patients hospitalized earlier in the pandemic. They reported fewer long-COVID symptoms seen following infection by the original strain, including loss of smell, difficulty swallowing and impaired hearing as long COVID symptoms. Of these patients, 76% reported at least one persistent long-COVID symptom, with 37% reporting shortness of breath, 36% experiencing chronic fatigue, 16% having sleep problems, 13% reporting visual problems and 13% reporting brain fog. Read: We’ve got to get on top of the COVID-related mental health crisis before it kills our patients Those who had received immunosuppressant medications to treat their COVID-19 were six times more likely to report long COVID symptom. Those who received oxygen were 40% more likely to report long COVID symptoms. Women were twice as likely to report long COVID symptoms than men. “The long duration and broad range of symptoms reminds us that the problem is not going away, and we need to do more to support and protect these patients in the long term. Future research should focus on the potential impacts of variants of concern and vaccination status on ongoing symptoms,” Dr. Spinicci said. Read: It's time for new tools to boost uptake of third doses, child vaccination: experts In one unexpected finding, patients with type 2 diabetes had a lower risk of developing long COVID symptoms. The researchers noted that more research is needed to explain this finding. The results will be presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Lisbon, Portugal at the end of April, but were released early. Read: UBC biochemist Pieter Cullis wins Gairdner Award for role in COVID-19 vaccines

Long COVID symptom profile may differ depending on variant of infection

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