The National Institute of Health (NIH) initiates studies on long COVID to improve treatments and understand the condition’s impact on millions. A significant move in the fight sight against this post-viral syndrome.
The recent announcement on Monday from the NIH regarding its $1.15 billion RECOVER project arrives at a critical juncture, responding to the mounting frustration of patients who have endured months or even years of debilitating health issues due to long COVID.
Despite the challenges faced by these individuals, the lack of proven treatments and the limited availability of rigorous studies to explore potential remedies have added to their plight. The NIH’s commitment to initiating a series of studies offers a glimmer of hope, as it promises to address the urgent need for effective therapies and enhance our understanding of this mysterious condition, providing much-needed relief to countless sufferers.
Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly from Washington University in St. Louis, whose own research shed light on the toll of long COVID, commented on the recent NIH announcement, stating that while it may be a year or two delayed and not as extensive as hoped, it is undeniably a step in the right direction.
Emphasizing the urgency of obtaining answers, he stressed that numerous individuals are vulnerable to exploitation by unproven therapies, making the pursuit of effective treatments through NIH’s project all the more critical.
The cause of long COVID, a term encompassing around 200 diverse symptoms, remains unknown to scientists. It is estimated that between 10% and 30% of individuals may have experienced some form of long COVID after recovering from a coronavirus infection, though this risk has slightly decreased since the early stages of the pandemic.
The U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra remarked, “If I gather 10 people, I’ll receive 10 different answers regarding what long COVID truly entails.”
