COVID-19 symptoms linger months after the initial diagnosis for more than a third of those who test positive, according to a new study.
The study, led by University of Oxford scientists and published this week in the journal PLOS Medicine, found that 36% of those studied reported having long COVID —when coronavirus-like symptoms remain or appear after the infection clears — up to six months after diagnosis.
“The research found that over 1 in 3 patients had one or more features of long-COVID recorded between 3 and 6 months after a diagnosis of COVID-19,” the study’s authors wrote.
The most common symptoms reported include breathing problems, abdominal pain, digestive issues, fatigue, pain, anxiety and depression, the Oxford study found.
Additionally, 40% of that group reported symptoms three to six months after testing positive despite having none in the initial three months.