December 2022 Newsletter

The long COVID registry has been live for nearly four months. Based on recent responses, it has been determined that the most commonly reported long COVID symptoms are:

• Difficulty thinking or concentrating
• Brain fog
• Fatigue with exertion
• Fatigue at rest
• Shortness of breath with exertion

The most common long COVID symptoms were derived from the responses of over 500 participants and their reported symptoms eight weeks post-COVID-19 infection.

A research study led by Thomas J. Guttuso Jr., MD, at UBMD Neurology in Williamsville, NY is now open for enrollment. You may be eligible for this opportunity if you meet the following criteria:

• 18 to 80 years old
• Tested positive for COVID-19
• Experiencing fatigue and/or brain fog for more than four weeks post COVID-19 infection
• Has not used tobacco or marijuana products for more than six months
• Not pregnant or planning to get pregnant over the next five weeks
• Live within a two-hour drive to Buffalo
  

If you are interested, call Guttuso at (716) 829-5454 for more information.

Numerous symptoms of long COVID can easily be confused with other conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Physicians hold much of the responsibility to consider every possibility of a patient’s symptoms. This story from Wired explains that providers need to be careful of using long COVID as a “catch-all” diagnosis, and patients need to keep a very close eye on their symptoms.

Researchers are investigating whether Paxlovid, a drug commonly used for SARS-COV-2 treatment, can be effective in treating long COVID. Although it is not fully understood why some people develop long-lasting symptoms after COVID-19, one theory is that remnants of the virus linger in some people’s bodies. This theory has researchers asking – could Paxlovid wipe out those remnants that stick around, and clear patient’s symptoms?

Since 2020, there has been a surge of people with disabilities in the U.S. workforce. This is because of long COVID. This story from Axios discusses the changes that employers are making to allow individuals to find work, or remain employed, including flexible scheduling and remote work. Accommodations such as these can help workers with long COVID take control of their environment, avoid exertion, and take breaks as needed to help them remain productive.

Rosie Pidgeon, 17, uses art to convey her experience with long COVID to help others make sense of the condition. Rosie states, “When people say I’m looking really well, I might look OK on the outside but inside I’m not.” This story from BBC shares Rosie's story and displays her art exhibition in Lisburn, UK.

“We envision the registry becoming a dialogue, a conversation between people with long COVID and researchers. The ultimate goal is to provide them with quality care.”

— Jennifer S. Abeles, DO, clinical assistant professor of medicine 

If you had COVID-19 and would like to participate, enter the registry and begin filling out the questionnaire.

If you have already participated, feel free to share with others who may be interested.

Contact us: (716) 382 - 1808 / ubcov@buffalo.edu