Long Covid causes effects similar to Parkinson’s or stroke, research reveals

Long Covid patients face disability levels comparable to Parkinson’s or stroke survivors, with 86 per cent reporting significant limitations in daily life.

The condition brings lasting fatigue, memory and concentration problems known as brain fog, breathlessness and reduced quality of life, often persisting for months or years after infection.

Most people recover from Covid-19 after a short illness such as a cold, sore throat, cough or fever, but some develop multiple ongoing symptoms in what the World Health Organization calls long Covid.

Scientists from universities in Australia assessed 121 adults who contracted Covid-19 between 2020 and mid-2022 and still met the WHO’s criteria for long Covid by late 2022.

Participants completed two widely used surveys measuring disability and quality of life: the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule and the Short Form Health Survey.

The study found long Covid was linked to a sharp reduction in quality of life and ability to perform basic daily tasks compared with the general population.

About 86 per cent of participants reported “clinically significant disability and participation limitations in daily activities.”

“Months or years later, they were still struggling with daily activities they once took for granted,” researchers wrote in The Conversation.

This cohort of 121 people with long Covid had “higher levels of disability than 98 per cent of the general population,” according to the study.

“The overall impact may be exacerbated in people with pre-existing comorbidities who are more susceptible to long Covid in the first place,” scientists said.

Researchers called for stronger support for patients, prioritising fatigue management and helping them regain the ability to perform important daily activities.

They said: “The findings underscore the need for targeted rehabilitation and support services for people living in Australia with long Covid, and further longitudinal research to explore the long-term impact on disability and quality of life, and inform policy and healthcare service delivery.”