Risks of long Covid have been 'greatly exaggerated'

More than 200 symptoms have been linked to long Covid, but experts suggest that the risks have been "greatly exaggerated."

The study reveals that major flaws in research have led to a distorted understanding of the true extent of long Covid, resulting in misdiagnoses and heightened public anxiety.

The researchers emphasized the need for better case definitions and more stringent criteria for diagnosing long Covid, considering an individual's physical and mental health.

Researchers attribute these issues to overly broad definitions and a lack of appropriate comparison groups in studies related to long Covid's incidence, prevalence, and control.

Scientists from the UK, US, and Denmark examined the definitions of long Covid by global health organizations, including NICE and WHO.

They found that any new symptoms occurring after a confirmed or suspected Covid infection were considered consistent with long Covid

Long Covid, also known as post-acute sequelae of Covid-19 (PASC), typically includes symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, chest pain, and shortness of breath

Sampling bias may have occurred in early pandemic studies, as they might have included fewer patients with mild or no symptoms. Risks of long Covid have been 'greatly exaggerated' Risks of long Covid have been 'greatly exaggerated'