A new study published in Nature Communication revealed that most patients with COVID-19 who have lingering symptoms at 12 months are likely to have those symptoms at 18 months also. In the study, data from 33,281 people in Scotland who tested positive for the coronavirus was analysed.

The findings of the study were in line with earlier studies. Also, among the 192 survivors who completed the surveys during the 12- and 18-month periods, the rate of recovery was found to be the same for both periods, i.e., 11% no recovery, 51% partial recovery, and 39% complete recovery. The study showed that asymptomatic infections were not associated with long COVID.

But among the 31,486 people with symptomatic infections, nearly half reported incomplete recovery at six to 18 months. As a part of the study, participants with symptomatic infections completed questionnaires twice over the following year. Based on the questionnaire, it was observed that at six months, 8% reported no recovery, 47% reported partial recovery, and 45% reported complete recovery. Those rates had barely changed in 12 months, with 8% reporting no recovery, 46% partial recovery, and 46% complete recovery.

The study further revealed that long COVID was more likely to be seen in patients who had been hospitalized and in those who were older, female, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and with pre-existing health conditions. The most common lingering symptoms included breathlessness, chest pain, palpitations, confusion, and "brain fog."

(Source: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2022-10-13/long-covid-at-12-months-persists-at-18-months-study-shows )