It has been just revealed that long covid can now be diagnosed with an accuracy of almost 100%. Check out the latest reports about the matter below.
Long covid can be diagnosed correctly
Millions of people suffering from long-COVID symptoms may soon have answers through a simple blood test.
A recent study published in Nature has uncovered unique biomarkers in patients with this complicated condition, allowing a machine learning algorithm to correctly diagnose it in almost every case.
The study’s lead researcher, David Putrino, a neuroscience Ph.D. holder and a professor of rehabilitation and human performance at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, says this is the first of many discoveries showing clear differences between healthy individuals and those with long COVID.
AI can spot long covid in blood samples
The findings provide hope for individuals suffering from long-COVID, which accounts for approximately 6 percent of the U.S. population, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Many of these individuals have been met with skepticism regarding the legitimacy of their persistent fatigue, brain fog, and pain after COVID-19 infection.
Mr. Putrino and his team conducted an analysis on approximately 270 patients from three locations: The Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Union Square, and Yale School of Medicine.
The study took place between January 2021 and June 2022 and participants were divided into three groups: those with no prior COVID infection, those who fully recovered, and those experiencing long-COVID symptoms for at least four months after infection.
Researchers had all patients complete questionnaires regarding their symptoms, medical history, and health-related quality of life.
Additionally, blood samples were taken to identify any potential biomarker differences.
A program utilizing machine learning algorithms was used to determine the most effective biomarkers for identifying long COVID. The questionnaire responses were then inputted into the program.
The algorithm was able to distinguish between patients with and without long COVID with a 96 percent accuracy rate. It identified specific abnormalities in immune cell activity, reactivated dormant herpes viruses such as Epstein-Barr, and reduced cortisol levels in long-COVID patients’ blood.
According to Dr. Thomas Gut, Director of the Post-COVID Recovery Center at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital in New York, these findings exhibit potential for objectively diagnosing long COVID by identifying the “constellation of immune cells.”
He also stated that “serological markers could be a huge step toward confirming long COVID versus other complications.”
The data also raise questions about COVID’s role in awakening other viruses, Dr. Gut noted. “This data does suggest that there be a link between these viruses.”
Long covid is real
New research has been discovered that could help distinguish long COVID from psychological distress caused by COVID-19.
According to Mr. Putrino, it is crucial to understand that long COVID is not a functional disorder without physical signs.
This is not a psychosomatic condition, but rather a complex chronic illness associated with infection. A study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research in February shows that there is “substantial” evidence suggesting a role for psychological mechanisms in long COVID.
The researchers noted that psychological distress is not only a symptom but also a risk factor for long COVID. They also found that higher levels of personal resilience were correlated with lower severity of the condition.
