Researchers working to understand scale, scope of long COVID

Researchers say long COVID can hit anyone who was infected with COVID-19, even if their symptoms were mild but people who experience five or more symptoms during the acute phase of their illness appear more likely to develop long COVID. For many people, getting a diagnosis is challenging because the condition is new and doctors are at a loss for how to help patients, as treatment options are limited. Studies show the risk of developing the condition appears to be much higher in women and a peer-reviewed study found people who were infected with the virus experienced brain abnormalities, such as a reduction in grey matter and a greater cognitive decline. One of the challenges with studying post-COVID-19 conditions understanding which symptoms can be attributed to long COVID and which are the result of hospitalization  PHAC is working with Statistics Canada to track cases and with the Canadian Institutes for Health Research to fund studies to better understand the condition.
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