New NIH Study Suggests Long COVID May Not Exist

A new study form the National Institutes of Health has raised questions about “long COVID” and its existence.

(5) Kidney function
(6) Liver function
(7) Blood levels
(8) Brain injury (neurofilament light chains)

Next, they report lung function tests.

Again, no differences, unsurprising given that the post-COVID patients mostly did not have severe pneumonia which damages the lungs.

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— Adam W Gaffney (@awgaffney) May 23, 2022

“Exploratory studies found no evidence of persistent viral infection, autoimmunity, or abnormal immune activation in participants with PASC,” the authors said. “Abnormal findings on physical examination and diagnostic testing were uncommon”.

Results from the study show there was no evidence of long-term COVID-19 infection in patients who were six or more weeks past the onset of symptoms, even if they were experiencing “long COVID”.

Women and individuals with history of anxiety disorders were more likely to report having long COVID, according to the study.

“The study enrolled 189 people with lab-documented cases of COVID-19, who were at least six weeks from the onset of symptoms, and 120 control participants who tested negative for COVID-19 antibodies,” reported the Daily Caller.

There were no differences in neurocognitive testing between the groups, e.g. in processing speed, episodic memory, or executive functioning.

However, quality of life, both physical and in terms of mental health, was much lower post-COVID compared to controls.

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— Adam W Gaffney (@awgaffney) May 23, 2022

Fifty-five percent of those who had been infected and 13% of the control group reported symptoms of PASC (long COVID).

The individuals in the study were given physical examinations, questionnaires, lab tests, cognitive tests, and a cardiopulmonary evaluation.

Researchers suggested that, in most cases, there was no identifiable cause of the PASC symptoms.

Doctors and scientists have debated for months whether long COVID is a real physical illness or a psychological disorder that stays after recovering from the virus.