Recovery time prolonged for individuals diagnosed with Long COVID after hospitalisation

Most people who have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 for more than five months after being admitted to hospital with the disease are not fully recovered one year later, research published in December 2021 has revealed.

 The PHOSP-COVID study, conducted last year by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, has shown that seven in 10 people hospitalised with COVID-19 do not feel fully recovered 12 months after being infected.

 Prior studies have found that obese women who needed ventilation support for their breathing whilst they were in hospital tend to take longer to bounce back from the disease. 

 During the trial, the team of academics examined blood samples of more than 2,000 people who had been admitted to hospital with COVID-19 to analyse the length of their recovery. Participants also filled in surveys to self-report their symptoms at the five- and 12-month mark.

 The scientists found that higher levels of substances were linked to whole-body inflammation and molecules associated with tissue damage and repair were more present in the participants with severe Long COVID compared to mild.

In addition, they discovered that some substances were connected to poor cognition amongst the participants reporting symptoms such as ‘brain fog’ or slowed thinking, suggesting possible neuro-inflammation.

According to the findings, extreme exhaustion, aching muscles, sleeping difficulties and feeling short of breath were the most common symptoms in those with Long COVID.

Professor Chris Brightling, NIHR Senior Investigator and Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Leicester, and Chief Investigator for the PHOSP-COVID study, said: “The PHOSP-COVID study is further evidence of the UK’s ability to combine expertise across both disease area and geography to rapidly gather data to help us understand the longer-term implications of Long-COVID in hospitalised patients with persistent symptoms.

“Our findings show that people who were hospitalised and went on to develop Long-COVID are not getting substantially better a year after they were discharged from hospital. Many people in our study had not fully recovered at five months and most of these reported little positive change in their health condition at one year.”

Professor Louise Wain, GSK-BLF Chair in Respiratory Research at the University of Leicester and a lead author of the paper, said: “The good news is that we have identified some differences in the blood samples of those who are still experiencing the long-term physical and cognitive effects of their COVID-19 hospital admission.

“These differences give us clues about the potential underlying mechanisms and suggest that we may be able to use existing medicines that target these mechanisms to help these subgroups of people.”

Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Leicester said: “This is extremely significant research, which will help to improve our understanding of and shape the treatment provided to those suffering from the long-term impact of COVID.

“I am proud of the pioneering work taking place here in Leicester – in our Centenary year our academics continue to produce world-changing research in partnership with our collaborators.”