Long Covid update: There’s still reason to avoid Covid-19, even if you’ve had it already; it’s ‘annoyingly stubborn,’ expert says
By Katelyn Jetelina
Covid-19 is not the common cold. Here’s an effort to keep you up to date on long-Covid developments.
What we knew: Long Covid after first infection was clearly a risk. The risk of long Covid after re-infection was not known.
New info: In the U.K., risk of long Covid dropped after second infections compared to first infection (4% → 2.4%). This is good and bad news: Risk drops, but risk is clearly not zero.
Why it matters: There is still reason to avoid Covid-19, even if you’ve had it already.
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| Cumulative incidence curve of long-Covid diagnoses over 10 months after randomization. Source: Lancet preprint. |
Metformin had a 42% reduced risk in long Covid cases compared to the placebo; 63% reduced risk if taken within four days of symptoms.
For every 100 people who took the drug, four fewer cases of long Covid nine months after infection occurred. Ivermectin and fluvoxamine had no impact.
Why it matters: People should consider Metformin, especially women who are at higher risk for long Covid. It’s best taken within four days of infection. This is a challenging timeframe in the U.S. medical care system, though.
Paxlovid may help… a little?
New info: Paxlovid reduced risk of long Covid by 26%, regardless of vaccination status and history of prior infection. We need more studies, particularly among young people, as Paxlovid’s effect will likely increase among younger people.
Why it matters: There may be small, proxy benefits from taking Paxlovid, including among younger populations that aren’t “eligible.”
What we didn’t know: We didn’t know the longevity of severe symptoms.
New info: Among those with long Covid, the rate in which symptoms affected daily life decreased from 45% → 25% over seven months.
Why it matters: If you get severe long Covid, there is a chance that symptoms will get better after seven months. Then again, there’s a chance that they won’t.
What we know: People living with long Covid report profound stigmatization because people disbelieve that long Covid is a “thing.”
New info: A community member of this newsletter, Dianna Cowarn (also known as Physics Babe on YouTube), was diagnosed with long Covid last summer. Her crew made a 4-minute video. Check it out here if you’re still not convinced. It’s painstaking [and is preceded by commercials].
Katelyn Jetelina (MPH, PhD) is an epidemiologist, data scientist, wife, and mom of two little girls. She works at a nonpartisan health policy think tank and is a senior scientific consultant to the CDC and other organizations.