Almost a fifth of Covid patients without symptoms went on to experience conditions consistent with long Covid a month after their initial diagnosis, according to a huge study published Tuesday.

The study found that across all ages, the most common post viral conditions were in order of frequency: pain, breathing difficulties, high cholesterol, general discomfort and fatigue, and high blood pressure.

The analysis by non-profit FAIR Health encompassed insurance claims from 1.96 million Americans -- the largest population of patients ever studied for long Covid -- from February 2020 to February 2021.

"Even as the Covid-19 pandemic wanes, long-haul Covid persists as a public health issue affecting many Americans," said FAIR Health's president Robin Gelburd.

"The findings in our new study shed significant light on this emerging issue for all individuals who have long-haul COVID, as well as for policy makers, providers, payors and researchers."

"Long Covid" refers to symptoms of the disease that persist more than four weeks after being diagnosed.

Nineteen percent of asymptomatic Covid patients experienced long Covid symptoms 30 days out from their initial diagnosis; the figure grew to 27.5 percent of Covid patients who were symptomatic but not hospitalized, and 50 percent of those who were hospitalized.


Most long Covid conditions were associated more with females than males -- but some, such as cardiac inflammation, were more common in males, who accounted for 52 percent of cases against 48 percent for females.

A quarter of all such cases occurred among individuals aged 19-29.

The causes of long Covid?
"Theories include persistent immune activation after the acute phase; initial damage from the virus, such as damage to nerve pathways, that is slow to heal; and persistent presence of low-level virus," the study said.

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