📢Our review "Long COVID science, research and policy" is out in @NatureMedicine
By @zalaly @ahandvanish @LisaAMcCorkell @leticiasaurus @swulfie @VirusesImmunity @EricTopol
A thread
nature.com/articles/s4159…
In this review, we provide (1) a synthesis of the state of science on Long COVID; (2) assess the impacts of Long COVID on individuals, health systems, the economy & global health metrics; and (3) provide a forward-looking research & policy roadmaps nature.com/articles/s4159…
We begin with a timeline of the history of #LongCovid. We recognize the prescience of the #MECFS community that warned us about what’s to come, the op-ed by @fi_lowenstein in @NYTimes, the first mainstream media piece by @edyong209 in @TheAtlantic & more
nature.com/articles/s4159…
What is Long COVID? It is a complex, multisystem disorder that affects nearly every organ system, including the cardiovascular system, the nervous system, the endocrine system, the immune system, the reproductive system and the gastrointestinal system. nature.com/articles/s4159…
It affects people across the age spectrum (from children to older adults), people of different race and ethnicities, sex and gender, and baseline health status. nature.com/articles/s4159…
How common is Long COVID?
We estimate that the cumulative incidence of Long COVID till the end of 2023 is about 400 million cases – this is a staggeringly high burden.
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Mechanisms of Long COVID include viral persistence, immune dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, complement dysregulation, prothrombotic inflammation and microbiome dysbiosis. Details in our review. nature.com/articles/s4159…
We review the impacts of Long COVID on individuals and communities, health systems, economies, and sustainable development goals (SDGs) nature.com/articles/s4159…
Impact on Individuals: Long COVID severely affects patients' well-being and sense of self. It affects the ability to work, socialize, and perform daily activities, often leading to social exclusion, isolation and stigma, often from medical providers.
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Impact on Economies: Long COVID affects labor participation and productivity, causing significant financial strain on individuals & economies.
We estimate that the annual global economic toll of Long COVID is around $1 trillion or 1% of the global GDP
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This is a significant drag on global economic output and demands the attention of every government on earth.
Addressing Long COVID is not just a health imperative but an economic one.
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Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Long COVID threatens progress towards SDGs, affecting poverty, hunger, health, education, and gender equality across the globe. It exacerbates existing inequalities and strains resources. nature.com/articles/s4159…
Research Roadmap: A comprehensive research agenda is needed to understand biological mechanisms, develop diagnostics, and design therapeutic trials. Understanding Long COVID requires a multidisciplinary approach and collaboration across disciplines. nature.com/articles/s4159…
Policy Roadmap: Effective policies should focus on prevention, support for affected individuals, access to quality care, professional education, and public health communication. A coordinated global response is essential to address Long COVID challenges. nature.com/articles/s4159…
In sum, Long COVID is a defining health crisis of our time, with wide-reaching impacts.
Addressing the crisis of Long COVID requires an ambitious and coordinated—but so far absent—global research and policy response strategy.
nature.com/articles/s4159…
Thanks to my co-authors @ahandvanish @LisaAMcCorkell @leticiasaurus @swulfie @VirusesImmunity @EricTopol
Thanks to our editors @naturemedicine and our reviewers.
nature.com/articles/s4159…
TLDR: The global cumulative incidence of Long COVID is around 400 million with an annual economic cost of around $1 trillion; it poses significant challenges to individuals, health systems and economies across the globe.
nature.com/articles/s4159…
Coverage by @cbarbermd in @FortuneMagazine
fortune.com/well/article/l…
By @PamBelluck in @nytimes
nytimes.com/2024/08/09/hea…
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