More than 336,000 people in Ireland could have suffered the effects of Long Covid according to research published in The Lancet medical journal.
Based on the findings of the Dutch study, one in eight people who contract Covid-19 suffer prolonged symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog and loss of taste or smell.
While the number of people in Ireland with Long Covid is still unclear, analysis by TD Denis Naughten suggests that if the findings of the new study are applied here, the number would be around 336,451. Mr Naughten also used blood donor figures in order to come to that conclusion.
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“At present, the exact number of patients that are affected with Long Covid remains unknown, but published reports indicated that approximately 10-20% of COVID-19 patients experience lingering symptoms for weeks to months following COVID-19 infection,” a spokesperson for the HSE said.
Mr Naughten believes the government needs to begin treating the condition as seriously as it treated the virus itself.
“We cannot just sleepwalk into a crisis of chronic illness, which will push people waiting on treatments since before the pandemic even further down already horrendous waiting lists,” he said.
“The numbers are just staggering. By population, Co Carlow has the most patients with Long-Covid at 4,750, while their neighbours in Co Wicklow have the lowest incidence by population at 8,636, followed by Co Wexford at 9,023.”
According to the HSE: “Diagnosis of Long Covid at present is based on patients’ symptoms and clinical history, there is no single test that can be used to confirm Long Covid.
“Over 200 of the symptoms associated with Long Covid have been identified, however common symptoms include fatigue, respiratory and cardiac symptoms, neurological symptoms, muscular and joint pain and digestive symptoms which generally have an impact on everyday functioning and quality of life.”
The HSE is looking into how to model the numbers of people affected by Long Covid in Ireland and to predict the future demand for treatment.
“An epidemiological survey is being planned in this regard and will be key to providing insight and understanding to the prevalence of Long Covid in the Irish population and risk factors for developing Long Covid. It will also help to forecast future demand for future Long Covid services,” the spokesperson said.
The HSE is also responding to the situation by establishing post-acute and Long Covid clinics but recruitment is still ongoing for staff to operate the facilities.
The Long Covid clinics already up and running include St Vincent’s University Hospital, Beaumont Hospital and University Hospital Galway. The Post-Acute Covid clinics include University Hospital Galway and Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown. Both Tallaght University Hospital and St James’s University are operating combined Post-Acute and Long Covid clinics.
“As Long Covid clinics become more established, they will capture information in relation to waiting lists and activity levels. Collation of this data will be key to estimating the numbers of patients experiencing Long Covid,” the HSE said.
People with Long Covid symptoms should seek care first of all form their GP, according to the HSE.
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