Hundreds of Thousands of Australians Struggle with Long COVID
Hundreds of thousands of Australians are believed to be living with long COVID, a condition defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as symptoms persisting for at least three months post-infection. Despite its prevalence, specific data on its frequency in Australia remains elusive.
Long COVID, affecting around 6% of those infected, presents over 200 symptoms, with an average of 27 days of impaired daily activities and 18 days of complete inability to function each month. A recent study revealed that people's own assessments of their recovery strongly predict their disability and quality of life, with long COVID sufferers reporting worse disability than 98% of the general Australian population.
Quality of life is significantly impacted, with energy levels and social life being the most affected. For some, long COVID lasts mere months, but for 'long haulers', it can stretch into years, comparable to chronic illnesses like chronic fatigue syndrome, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, and Parkinson's disease. Disadvantaged communities are disproportionately impacted, facing cascading effects of the condition.
While specific data on the frequency of long COVID in Australia is unavailable, its impact on hundreds of thousands of lives is undeniable. With quality of life severely affected and disadvantaged communities disproportionately impacted, understanding and addressing long COVID remains a pressing public health concern.
