New Study Reveals Complexity of Long COVID Recovery with Innovative App Tracking
A recent Northwestern University study has shed light on the challenges faced by long COVID patients, revealing that even those who experience improvements still suffer from fluctuating symptoms that significantly impact their quality of life. The research, published in BMC Neurology, used a mobile app to track the recovery patterns of 63 patients over a three-month period.
According to Dr. Igor J. Koralnik, chief of neuroinfectious diseases and global neurology at Northwestern Medicine, the study aimed to better understand the recovery process for long COVID patients who do not fully recover from their symptoms. "The first question patients ask us when they come to the clinic is, 'When am I finally going to improve?'" Dr. Koralnik said. "Some patients have symptoms lasting for years, and that's why we started this study."
The researchers found that while 43% of participants showed measurable improvement over the three-month period, the remaining 57% reported no improvement. Furthermore, those who did experience improvements were characterized by greater variability in their symptoms, including days when they felt better and others when they felt worse.
Interestingly, women were less likely than men to show significant improvements, while participants with changes to their sense of smell and taste were also less likely to benefit from the app. However, those who improved tended to perform better on cognitive tests and reported fewer sleep disturbances compared to those who did not improve.
The study's findings have significant implications for the treatment and management of long COVID patients. Dr. Koralnik emphasized that addressing cognitive function and improving sleep could be key to recovery, stating, "We can create other apps for other chronic diseases and empower patients on their often bumpy road to recovery."
The app used in the study is being expanded to a larger study following patients for a one-year period, with the goal of understanding the root cause of long COVID and developing more effective treatments. As Dr. Koralnik noted, "We hope that this larger study will tell researchers more about the root cause of long COVID and how we can better manage patients and treat their symptoms."
For those living with long COVID, like 27-year-old Grace Huffman-Gottschling, the app provided a valuable tool for tracking symptoms and monitoring progress. Despite her own struggles, she reported that the app was easy to use and encouraged her to categorize her daily symptoms.
However, despite advances in technology, life with long COVID remains challenging, particularly when it comes to social interactions. As Dr. Koralnik acknowledged, "It's really hard to work and be out." The study highlights the need for continued research into the complexities of long COVID and innovative solutions like symptom-tracking apps that can empower patients on their journey to recovery.
The success of this app could indicate a broader opportunity to create similar symptom trackers for other chronic conditions, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life. As Dr. Koralnik said, "We can create other apps for other chronic diseases and empower patients on their often bumpy road to recovery."
A recent Northwestern University study has shed light on the challenges faced by long COVID patients, revealing that even those who experience improvements still suffer from fluctuating symptoms that significantly impact their quality of life. The research, published in BMC Neurology, used a mobile app to track the recovery patterns of 63 patients over a three-month period.
According to Dr. Igor J. Koralnik, chief of neuroinfectious diseases and global neurology at Northwestern Medicine, the study aimed to better understand the recovery process for long COVID patients who do not fully recover from their symptoms. "The first question patients ask us when they come to the clinic is, 'When am I finally going to improve?'" Dr. Koralnik said. "Some patients have symptoms lasting for years, and that's why we started this study."
The researchers found that while 43% of participants showed measurable improvement over the three-month period, the remaining 57% reported no improvement. Furthermore, those who did experience improvements were characterized by greater variability in their symptoms, including days when they felt better and others when they felt worse.
Interestingly, women were less likely than men to show significant improvements, while participants with changes to their sense of smell and taste were also less likely to benefit from the app. However, those who improved tended to perform better on cognitive tests and reported fewer sleep disturbances compared to those who did not improve.
The study's findings have significant implications for the treatment and management of long COVID patients. Dr. Koralnik emphasized that addressing cognitive function and improving sleep could be key to recovery, stating, "We can create other apps for other chronic diseases and empower patients on their often bumpy road to recovery."
The app used in the study is being expanded to a larger study following patients for a one-year period, with the goal of understanding the root cause of long COVID and developing more effective treatments. As Dr. Koralnik noted, "We hope that this larger study will tell researchers more about the root cause of long COVID and how we can better manage patients and treat their symptoms."
For those living with long COVID, like 27-year-old Grace Huffman-Gottschling, the app provided a valuable tool for tracking symptoms and monitoring progress. Despite her own struggles, she reported that the app was easy to use and encouraged her to categorize her daily symptoms.
However, despite advances in technology, life with long COVID remains challenging, particularly when it comes to social interactions. As Dr. Koralnik acknowledged, "It's really hard to work and be out." The study highlights the need for continued research into the complexities of long COVID and innovative solutions like symptom-tracking apps that can empower patients on their journey to recovery.
The success of this app could indicate a broader opportunity to create similar symptom trackers for other chronic conditions, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life. As Dr. Koralnik said, "We can create other apps for other chronic diseases and empower patients on their often bumpy road to recovery."
i mean, we thought it was gonna be over by now but nope, these new study results are wild 
they found that even if ppl think they're getting better, their symptoms can just fluctuate and mess with their quality of life 
so yeah, let's just say i'll never underestimate the complexity of long covid again 
it helps ppl track their symptoms and monitor progress, which is def a good starting point 
but we need more research and innovation to tackle this thing for real 
let's get those chronic disease apps created ASAP 
. And women, specifically, getting left behind is wild... like, can't we just create apps that work for everyone? 
Anyway, this study has me thinking - what if we can use these tracking apps to monitor not just symptoms but also mental health and overall well-being too? We need more research on how to support people through all the ups and downs of long COVID 
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the more i think about this long covid thing, the more i'm convinced it's not just about getting better or worse, it's about living with these fluctuating symptoms 24/7. like, what even is a 'good day' for someone going through this? it's not like they can just wake up one morning feeling okay and be done with it. the fact that women are less likely to show significant improvements is wild - i feel like we're still learning so much about how this affects different people. 
I'm not sure about this app thingy... sounds like it's doing more harm than good with all the fluctuating symptoms 
. Like, isn't that just a fancy way of saying 'your life is still messed up'? 
It's like they're being left behind in the recovery process... it doesn't add up 
. I know tech can be helpful, but sometimes I think we just need more human interaction and support rather than some fancy app 
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. i mean, how do you even work when you're always feeling tired or experiencing these weird symptoms? 
. i hope this larger study helps figure out the root cause of long covid & gets us closer 2 a cure 
. Anyway, long COVID is still so messed up 
its all about empowering patients to take control of their own health, which is just SO COOL
. I mean, who needs that kind of stress in their life, right? 
. Those researchers are like, totally on the grind 
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. And I love Dr. Koralnik's vibe – he's all about empowering patients and creating solutions 
. But what really gets me is when he says it's hard to work and be out 
. Keep pushing forward, researchers 
seriously though, 57% of people didn't get better? that's like, half the population stuck in covid limbo 
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, but let's not forget that people are still struggling with social interactions... that's like the ultimate covid conundrum 
I mean, long COVID patients are already dealing with so much uncertainty and discomfort, and now we have some insight into the complexities of their recoveries. The fact that even those who improve still experience fluctuating symptoms is wild 
. I think it's awesome that Dr. Koralnik and his team are working to better understand this and create more effective treatments 
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