Study: Pain is the most common Covid symptom.

According to a recent study, pain is the most common and severe symptom experienced by people with long Covid.

The study, led by University College London (UCL), analysed data of more than 1,000 English and Welsh people who recorded their symptoms using an app between November 2022 and March 2022.

In the study that was published in JRSM Open it was found that the most common symptoms reported by participants were pain. This included headaches, joint pain, and stomach pain.

Other common symptoms included neuropsychological problems such as anxiety or depression (18.4%), exhaustion (14.3%), and dyspnea (7.4%).

Since initial registration, the analysis revealed that pain and other symptoms have increased in intensity by an average of 3.3% per month.

The study also looked at the impact of demographics on symptom severity, and found significant differences between groups. The study found that older individuals experienced much more intense symptoms. Those aged 68-77 reported 32.8% worse symptoms and those aged aged 7887 experienced an 86% greater increase in intensity of symptoms compared to those aged 18-27.

Women reported 9.2% more severe symptoms, including pain than men. The ethnicity of the individual also influenced the severity of symptoms. Non-whites with long Covid had 23.5% worse symptoms, including more pain, than whites.

Lead author Dr David Sunkersing from the UCL Institute of Health Informatics said: “Our research highlights pain as one of the most commonly reported symptoms in long Covid. It also shows that demographic factors seem to play an important role in symptom intensity.”

The researchers called for the continued support of long Covid clinics, and for the development and implementation of treatment strategies which prioritise the management and prevention pain, along with other common symptoms such as neuropsychological issues, fatigue, and neuropsychological problems.

Researchers said that given the impact of demographic factors, such as age, on the severity of symptoms, it was important to develop healthcare policies which addressed these disparities. This would ensure equitable care for those with long-term Covid.