CNN reports that “emerging research suggests that a small portion of people who now live with long COVID may have shown no COVID-19 symptoms at all when they were initially infected – or their symptoms were mild or unusual.”

Estimates of the incidence of long COVID “range from about 30 to 60% of people who have recovered from acute COVID-19,” and “women and older adults appear to be more likely to have it than men and younger adults.”

Other research published in the Journal of Infectious Disease indicates that among patients with long COVID-19,

• 37% had symptoms 30 days post-infection,
• 25% at 60 days,
• 32% at 90 days and
• 49% at 120 days.

Helio reports that researchers reviewed data from 41 studies and noted that about 200 million people worldwide are dealing with the effects of long COVID-19, most commonly

• fatigue,
• memory issues,
• shortness of breath,
• sleep disruption, and
• joint pain.

Other recent research has shown that long COVID symptoms are far less likely in vaccinated people – in fact, fully vaccinated participants who had also had a breakthrough case of COVID were 54% to 68% less likely to report long COVID symptoms than were their unvaccinated counterparts.

American Medical Association President Gerald E. Harmon, M.D., said, “We do know that even a mild or relatively asymptomatic acute infection with COVID can eventually cause long COVID.”

But even though “physicians know more about COVID-19 now than they did two years ago in the early days of the pandemic, the medical community still doesn’t ‘have all the answers when it comes to the disease – and especially long COVID,” said Dr. Harmon.

But, as one researcher advised, “Long COVID is a terrible and debilitating disease. Any measures we can take to prevent long COVID are key to limiting more suffering in the future,” she says. “One more reason to get vaccinated.”

This blog was accurate as of the day of posting. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly evolves and the scientific community’s understanding of the novel coronavirus and the COVID vaccine develops, the information above may have changed since it was last updated. While I aim to keep all of my blogs on COVID and the COVID vaccine up to date, please visit online resources provided by the CDC, WHO, and your local public health department to stay informed on the latest news.

© Copyright WLL, INC. 2022. This blog provides a wide variety of general health information only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your regular physician. If you are concerned about your health, take what you learn from this blog and meet with your personal doctor to discuss your concerns.