At least 17 million people in 53 countries of the European Region of the World Health Organization experienced Long Covid in the first 2 years of the pandemic, meeting the WHO criteria that define post-infection Sars-CoV-2 syndrome as a symptom picture lasting 3 months or more. It is the estimate based on a model developed for WHO Europe by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (Ihme) of the School of Medicine of the University of Washington, in the USA. There is also “a staggering 307% increase” in new Long Covid cases identified between 2020 and 2021. “Millions of people in the years to come may have to live with this syndrome”, warns the agency that together with patient associations gathered in the Long Covid Europe network, it dictates the objectives to counter the emergency by defining them with 3R: Recognition, Research and reporting, Rehabilitation, i.e. identification, research and reporting, rehabilitation.
From the photograph taken thanks to the Ihme methodology it appears that females, compared to males, are twice as likely to develop Long Covid. The risk also increases “dramatically” for those who have had severe forms of the disease, such as to require hospitalization, with one in three women and one in five men who may experience the syndrome. “Although there is still a lot to learn about Long Covid, in particular about how it presents itself in vaccinated versus unvaccinated populations and how it affects reinfections – comments Hans Kluge, director of WHO Europe, speaking to the 72nd Regional Committee of the agency meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel – these data highlight the urgent need for further analysis, more investment and more patient support. In our region, between Europe and Central Asia, millions of people suffer from debilitating symptoms many months after the initial Covid-19 infection. They cannot continue to suffer in silence. Governments and healthcare partners must work together to find evidence-based solutions. “
“The Ihme research – reports Christopher Murray, director of the institute – shows that in the first 2 years of the pandemic almost 145 million people worldwide suffered from one of the three groups of symptoms that characterize Long Covid: fatigue with physical pain. and mood swings, cognitive problems, shortness of breath. Knowing how many people are affected by the syndrome, and for how long, is important for health systems and government agencies to define rehabilitation and support tools. employers understand the problem, so that special solutions can be envisaged for those facing limitations “related to the sequelae of the infection.”
Although most of those infected with Covid fully recover after infection – recalls the WHO Europe – the 10-20% develop a variety of medium and long-term effects such as fatigue, wheezing and cognitive problems (confusion, memory problems, lack of concentration and mental clarity). Symptoms that may persist after Sars-CoV-2 infection or appear after healing, which come and go or cause periodic relapses. Long Covid can also have a direct or indirect impact on mental health and psychological well-being, and can affect the ability to carry out daily activities such as work or housework.
“My husband and I had Covid in March 2020 – says Ann Li, president of Long Covid Europe, a network that includes 19 patient associations throughout the WHO European region – I have no clear memories of that period and according to the doctors it could depend on the lack of oxygen “suffered during the illness,” but what comes to mind is the pain, the difficulty in breathing, the tiredness, the need to sleep all the time. The worst thing for me was the continuous brain fog: for a little bit I couldn’t even speak well; I could only do it slowly, it was so difficult to formulate the sentences in my head. and to promote the 3R strategy.
The objectives are “recognition and sharing of knowledge” on Long Covid, with “all services adequately equipped and no patient left alone or unable to recognize this debilitating condition; research and reporting, through the full participation of patients, necessary to improve understanding the prevalence, causes and costs of Long Covid; evidence-based and efficacy-based rehabilitation, safe for both patients and caregivers “. In order for these objectives to be achieved “we need all countries in the WHO European region to recognize that Long Covid is a serious problem that requires a response,” warns Kluge. It’s not just about health, he warns: “We are hearing stories of individual tragedies, of people in economic crisis facing relationship problems, losing their jobs and falling into depression. Many health workers who have risked their lives on the front lines now suffer from these chronic and debilitating syndrome after an infection contracted at work. They, and millions of others, need our help. “
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