A new study of Australians suffering from long COVID found 56 per cent still had persistent symptoms six months after their initial infection, according to experts from The Australian National University (ANU).
In most cases, symptoms included fatigue, shortness of breath and coughing.
The results follow a 2024 study led by Dr Mulu Woldegiorgis that surveyed 11,000 people from Western Australia three months after they contracted COVID-19. Almost one-in-five (18.2 per cent) had developed long COVID. The researchers then monitored the same group of people six months after their initial infection.
"We wanted to get a sense of the trajectory for people with long COVID. After six months, the average number of symptoms remained stable, indicating little improvement," she said.
A third of those with persistent long COVID reported seeking medical care for their symptoms in the month prior to the latest survey.
"Most went to their GP, highlighting the critical role of primary care in managing long COVID and the need to ensure adequate, ongoing resource allocation," Dr Woldegiorgis said.
"There is also emerging evidence to suggest that investment in speciality long COVID clinics may be warranted."
Around a third of those with persistent long COVID - 32 per cent - were not fully back at work or study at the six-month mark. This was higher than the proportion - 17.8 per cent - who reported the same after three months.
"Workers with long COVID face a number of challenges in returning to work, including impaired cognitive function, decreased physical endurance and mental health issues," Dr Woldegiorgis said.
"Ultimately employers could better retain workers with long COVID by creating more supportive policies."
According to the researchers, having one or more long-standing health issues at the time of the initial COVID infection and six or more symptoms after three months were independent predictors of persistent long COVID.
"For individuals experiencing long COVID, one of the goals of treatment should be to increase the proportion of patients who are on a trajectory of rapidly decreasing symptoms," Dr Woldegiorgis said.
"Innovative models of care that can be delivered in primary care settings such as GP practices and focus on patient-led self-care should be prioritised."
The study was conducted in collaboration with from the Western Australia Department of Health.
The results are published in Epidemiology & Infection.
