"MRI scans are shedding light on the symptoms associated with Long Covid."
A recent study suggests that individuals who experienced Long Covid after being hospitalized are more likely to exhibit organ damage. MRI scans of these patients revealed a threefold increase in abnormalities across various organs such as the lungs, brain, and kidneys. Researchers believe this damage is linked to the severity of the initial illness.
The study, published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine, involved 259 hospitalized Covid patients who were scanned five months after discharge. These scans showed significant differences compared to a control group of 52 individuals who never had Covid. Lung abnormalities were the most pronounced, with a 14-fold increase, while brain and kidney abnormalities were also more prevalent, being three times and twice as likely, respectively, in severe Covid cases. This research may contribute to the development of more effective treatments for Long Covid.
Dr. Betty Raman, a lead investigator from the University of Oxford, highlights that individuals with long Covid symptoms are at a higher risk of experiencing organ damage. The study found that five months after hospital discharge for Covid, patients exhibited more abnormalities in their lungs, brain, and kidneys compared to those who had never contracted Covid.
The presence of damage to these vital organs was influenced by factors such as the patient's age, the severity of their Covid illness, and any coexisting health conditions they may have had.
The Phosp-Covid study, which investigates the long-term effects of Covid on hospitalized patients, has revealed that some long Covid symptoms correlate with organ damage observed through MRI scans. For instance, lung abnormalities were associated with symptoms like a tight chest and cough.
However, not all long Covid symptoms could be directly linked to MRI findings. The research also found that individuals with abnormalities in multiple organs, affecting more than two, were four times more likely to report severe physical and mental impairments.
This emphasizes the need for comprehensive, long-term multidisciplinary follow-up services, particularly focusing on pulmonary and extrapulmonary health (kidneys, brain, and mental health), for hospitalized Covid patients. The study aims to contribute to a better understanding of long Covid's diverse symptoms and develop tests and treatments for this condition.
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