Long COVID-19 News: Brazil Study Finds Persistent Hematological Changes In Long COVID Individuals Up To 985 Days!

Long COVID News: While some half-baked studies conducted by garbage researchers from Israel and published in trashy British journals claim that Long COVID issues resolves within less than a year, hundreds of other studies show that this is not the case. (Kindly refer to archives at Thailand Medica News site)


 
An ongoing Long COVID study led by researchers from State University of Pará (UEPA)-Brazil, São Paulo University (USP)-Brazil and Federal University of Pará (UFPA)-Brazil have found persistent hematological changes in Long COVID individuals for up to 985 Days!
 
According to the study team, Long COVID affects a significant number of individuals after acute COVID-19 infection, and hematological changes can persist in the Post COVID-19 phase.
 
The study team aimed to evaluate these hematological laboratory markers, linking them to clinical findings and long-term outcomes in patients with long COVID.
 
This cross-sectional study selected participants from a ‘long COVID’ clinical care program in the Amazon region. Clinical data and baseline demographics were obtained, and blood samples were collected for quantification of erythrogram-, leukogram-, and plateletgram-related markers.
 
Long COVID symptoms and conditions was reported for up to 985 days.
 
Interestingly, the study findings showed that patients hospitalized in the acute phase had higher mean red/white cell, platelet, and plateletcrit levels and red cell distribution width.
 
The findings showed that hematimetric parameters were higher in shorter periods of long COVID.
 
Importantly, patients presenting with more than six concomitant long COVID symptoms had a higher white blood cell count, shorter prothrombin time (PT), and increased PT activity.
 
The study findings showed that within up to 985 days of long COVID, a probable benign compensation for erythrogram-related markers. Increased levels of leukogram-related markers and increased coagulation activity were observed in the worse long COVID groups, also indicating an exacerbated response after the acute disturbance, which is uncertain and requires further investigation.
 
The study findings were published on a preprint server and is currently being peer reviewed.
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202302.0469/v1
 
Among the various clinical and laboratory manifestations of the disease described throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, investigations of the hematological profile have proven important in the risk assessment of severe cases of COVID-19.
 
Hypercoagulable state and changes in platelet, leucocyte, and erythrocyte counts are found in patients who develop an unfavorable evolution of the disease, indicating a poor prognosis and that these should be observed carefully.
 
Importantly, many past studies indicate that the hematological profile can remain altered in the long COVID phase; however, the literature is still scarce in longer-lasting investigations, such as in long COVID for up to 1 year, and even more so in the Amazon region and there has been very little ot;>Long COVID News coverages on these.
 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32453877/
 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34490284/
 
The study team aimed to evaluate hematological laboratory markers, linking them to clinical findings and long-term outcomes in patients with long COVID.
 
For the study, of the 260 selected patients, the majority were female (n=166) and not elderly (n=198), with 34.2% being hospitalized in COVID-19 acute phase (n=89). Fatigue (n=181), dyspnea (n=176), and muscle weakness (n=159) were the most self-reported long COVID symptoms. The mean long COVID period was 308.1 days (SD, 171.5) with a mean of approximately six concomitant symptoms (mean ± SD, 6.1 ± 3.3). The longest reported long COVID period was 985 days. Most of the mean laboratory levels were within the reference ranges; however, the mean ESR levels increased, and the mean PDW levels were below the minimum adopted threshold. Only four patients (1.5%) presented with thrombocytopenia (platelet count, a (platelet count, less than150,000 thousand/mm3).
 
All hospitalized patients in the acute COVID-19 phase presented with increased levels of RBCs, WBCs, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and platelets and increased percentages of RDW and plateletcrit compared with non-hospitalized patients (n=171).
 
In individuals with up to 90 days of long COVID (n=31), the MCV, MCH, and MCHC levels were lower than those in patients with long COVID for >90 days (n=229), which can also be observed when comparing patients with up to 180 days (n=60) and those with >180 days of long COVID (n=200).
 
However, in contrast, patients with up to 365 days of long COVID (n=172) presented with increased levels of MCV, MCH, and MCHC. The RBC count and RDW percentages increased in patients with up to 90 and 180 days of long COVID.
 
Interestingly, patients with more than six concomitant symptoms (n=119) presented with increased levels of WBCs, neutrophils, and lymphocytes, shorter PT, and higher PT activity.
 
Interestingly as well, shorter periods of long COVID, such as up to 90 or 365 days, were associated with female sex, acute hospitalization, and an increased platelet count.
 
On the other hand, having long COVID for >1 year was associated with a higher lymphocyte count and low hemoglobin levels. Female sex and acute hospitalization were associated with more than six concomitant symptoms. In hospitalized patients (n=89), the neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte levels were correlated with the hospitalization period.
 
The study findings suggest that the study population had, on average, a positive recovery in the hematological profile, even if symptoms of long COVID were reported for up to 985 days.
 
This is the first study to provide clues about the hematological condition of patients with prolonged symptoms of COVID-19 long after the acute phase, demonstrating profiles of important markers in determining the severity of the involvement of SARS-CoV-2 within up to 985 days prior to the onset of symptoms.
 
The study findings provide an interesting insight into the hematological profile of long COVID while promoting reflection for future studies. It is suggested that future investigations address the issue of increased leucocyte and lymphocyte levels, as well as increased coagulation activity, even 4 weeks after the onset of symptoms. In addition, follow-up studies of long COVID are important, as they would help to better visualize long-term hematological changes.
 
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