The term "long COVID" continues to be important in acknowledging and respecting the experiences of patients, despite ongoing debate about its uniqueness compared to other post-viral syndromes. Research is shedding light on the distinctive features of long COVID, such as its immune profile and prevalence of symptoms like smell and taste dysfunction. While progress in understanding and treating long COVID remains slow, there are emerging opportunities for therapy and rehabilitation, including specialized clinics and multidisciplinary approaches. However, there is a need for greater collaboration with patients in developing healthcare strategies and pathways, as well as a recognition of the crucial role of primary care in long COVID management.
As of March 2023, an estimated 1.7 million people in the UK are living with long Covid symptoms lasting at least 12 weeks, with almost 400,000 experiencing significant impact on their daily activities. Rates of recovery after 12 weeks are slow, and the chance of developing long Covid was highest for those infected in 2020. Long Covid is associated with increased health service use and a growing number of people out of work due to chronic sickness. Research has identified distinct serum biomarkers associated with different clusters of symptoms, allowing for potential treatments to be designed. However, there is a lack of trials evaluating treatments for long Covid, with a perception that it is "too early" for randomized controlled trials. The impact of long Covid should have been factored into pandemic response and policy decisions, and consideration of post-viral syndromes should be included in responses to future pandemics.
