What are the 'four tendencies' of people who suffer from sequelae even after the new corona is cured?

He said he identified factors that identify whether people who have recovered from a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) are more likely to have a 'long COVID' that suffers from a variety of sequelae over weeks to months or more. The paper was published in the academic journal Cell.

Multiple Early Factors Anticipate Post-Acute COVID-19 Sequelae: Cell
https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674 (22) 00072-1

Predicting Long COVID at initial point of COV | Eurek Alert!
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/940806

New Research Hints at 4 Factors That May Increase Chances of Long Covid --The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/25/health/long-covid-risk-factors.html?referringSource=articleShare

These 4 risk factors may increase your chance of long COVID, study hints | Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/long-covid-four-potential-risk-factors

With COVID-19, various sequelae such as 'Brain Fog ', a feeling of malaise, loss of taste and smell, and shortness of breath, in which a sensation of a haze in the head and symptoms similar to dementia remain even after recovery. 'Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC: acute sequelae of COVID-19)', commonly known as 'long COVID', has been reported.

What is 'Long covid' where the symptoms of COVID-19 continue for several weeks or more? --GIGAZINE

To explore the causes of long COVID with various symptoms, a research team led by Yapeng Su of the American Institute of Systems Biology monitored 209 patients with COVID-19 for about 2-3 months after diagnosis. Then, at the time of diagnosis, at the onset of acute disease, and in the recovery period 2-3 months after the onset, after taking a sample by blood test and nasal swab sample, the presence or absence of long COVID symptoms is examined by questionnaire. I did.

As a result, 37% of the subjects complained of 3 or more long COVID symptoms, 24% complained of 1 or 2 symptoms, and 39% had no symptoms. The most common sequelae complained by people who recovered from COVID-19 were respiratory symptoms, followed by nervous system symptoms, loss of taste, and digestive system symptoms.

Furthermore, when we analyzed various factors that people with long COVID symptoms had, 'there was a large amount of new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) genetic material in the blood in the early stages of infection' and 'COVID-'. Epstein-Barr virus (EB virus) , which is an infectious disease virus different from 19, 'existence of autoantibodies related to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatism ' 'history of type 2 diabetes' It turned out to be a risk factor for long COVID.

◆ Autoantibodies
Of the four factors, 'autoantibodies' that target one's body are said to be particularly closely related to long COVIDs, and two-thirds of the confirmed long COVIDs are related to autoantibodies. Was there. For example, those who had an autoantibody called 'anti-interferon α2' at the time of diagnosis were more likely to develop symptoms of long COVID in the respiratory system. The researchers speculate that autoantibodies may cause the malfunction of certain immune cells, causing inflammation, which may cause long COVID.

◆ EB virus
The presence of an seemingly unrelated EB virus to COVID-19 was also a predictor of long COVID. The EB virus is said to be transmitted by 90-95% of people by the time they reach adulthood, and even if infected, it usually cures after exhibiting cold-like symptoms. However, even after infection, it remains dormant for the rest of its life and may reactivate for some reason, causing cancer or intractable diseases. In Japan, voice actor Miyu Matsuki, who died in 2015, became widely known for suffering from a chronic active EB virus infection.

In addition, the EB virus was reported in a 2021 study that 'the EB virus is reactivated in the body of a person suffering from the sequelae of COVID-19', and it has been renewed in recent years as a virus suspected of being related to long COVID. It is attracting attention.

Research results that 'a virus different from the new coronavirus' is reactivated in the body of a person suffering from the aftereffects of COVID-19 --GIGAZINE

At the time of writing the article, the direct relationship between EB virus reactivation and long COVID is unknown, but there is some speculation that EB virus may have something to do with triggering autoimmune diseases. increase. Regarding the EB virus, Yapeng Su, the lead author of the paper, said, 'When the immune system began to fight COVID-19, the EB virus was reactivated and had a chance to cause permanent damage to the human body. Maybe. '

◆ Diabetes and SARS-CoV-2 RNA
One-third of patients with long COVID have type 2 diabetes, and those with this risk factor were particularly prone to experience symptoms such as fatigue and coughing. Diabetes is a factor that increases the serious risk of COVID-19 along with heart disease and hypertension, and conversely, it is known that patients with COVID-19 are at risk of developing diabetes.

In addition, one-third of patients with long COVID have high levels of RNA, the genetic material for SARS-CoV-2, in their blood, and they are particularly susceptible to memory-related symptoms. .. This indicates that reducing the viral load in the patient's body as quickly as possible may prevent long COVID or control symptoms. However, long COVID occurs regardless of the severity of COVID-19, so it is not known whether aggressive antiviral treatment will help any patient.

Jim Heath, co-author of the paper and director of the Institute for Systems Biology, commented on the results of this study, which identified the causes of the sequelae of COVID-19 in detail. Not only can it lead to the development of treatments and treatments, but it is also a major step forward in identifying which COVID-19 patients are at increased risk of developing chronic disease. This finding is also a non-long COVID, such as Lime syndrome. It will also help you to better understand your chronic illness. '