In the News

20 January, 2024

People Working Fewer Hours Due To Long COVID, As Sick Days Increase Dramatically: ILO Report

March 11, 2024 will mark four years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. As economies, borders and workplaces reopened, the global unemployment dropped to the lowest level in 2023 compared to the beginning of the pandemic, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). Along with this, the working poverty rate (share of employed persons living in poverty due to low-paying jobs or low incomes) and informality has also approached pre-pandemic rates. But the desire and need to return to pre-COVID situation has come along with a reality that will especially worry the employers, reveals a new report.

20 January, 2024

The Frequency Of Fibromyalgia Syndrome In Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] is one of the most common reproductive abnormalities and is characterized by hyperandrogenemia. We aimed to assess the frequency of fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] and psychological distress in patients with PCOS. Methods: Forty patients with PCOS and 39 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study as PCOS and healthy normal control [HNC] groups. The diagnosis of FMS was based on the American College of Rheumatology criteria of 1990, and the diagnosis of PCOS was based on the Rotterdam criteria of 2003. All participants completed the questionnaires to gather information including demographic features, FMS-related symptoms, and the psychological status. Patients with PCOS were divided into two subgroups according to coexistence of FMS [PCOS only and PCOS + FMS]. Results: The mean age of PCOS and HNC groups were 23.97 +/- 6.01 and 26.15 +/- 5.45 years, respectively [P > 0.05]. The frequency of FMS in PCOS and HNC groups was 32.5 percent and 7.7 percent, respectively [P < 0.05]. Except constipation and paresthesia, the presence of FMS-related symptoms in the PCOS + FMS subgroup were higher than those of the PCOS only subgroup and HNC group. There were no differences in depression scores between the PCOS only and PCOS + FMS subgroups, but there were differences in anxiety scores. Conclusion: The frequency of FMS was found to be increased in PCOS. Anxiety risk was also found to be increased, particularly in patients with PCOS and concomitant FMS.

19 January, 2024

Did You Know That COVID Results In Hindering People's Ability To Exercise Physically? – Metro Puerto Rico

For those experiencing long-term Covid, going to the gym is not comparable. They experience extreme fatigue which prevents them from participating in any physical activity.

19 January, 2024

A Randomized Open-Label Clinical Trial On The Effect Of Amantadine On Post Covid 19 Fatigue

Many COVID-19 survivors experience lingering post-COVID-19 symptoms, notably chronic fatigue persisting for months after the acute phase. Despite its prevalence, limited research has explored effective treatments for post-COVID-19 fatigue. This randomized controlled clinical trial assessed the impact of Amantadine on patients with post-COVID-19 fatigue. The intervention group received Amantadine for two weeks, while the control group received no treatment. Fatigue levels were assessed using the Visual Analog Fatigue Scale (VAFS) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) questionnaires before and after the trial. At the study's onset, VAFS mean scores were 7.90 ± 0.60 in the intervention group and 7.34 ± 0.58 in the control group (P-value = 0.087). After two weeks, intervention group scores dropped to 3.37 ± 0.44, significantly lower than the control group's 5.97 ± 0.29 (P-value < 0.001). Similarly, FSS mean scores at the trial's commencement were 53.10 ± 5.96 in the intervention group and 50.38 ± 4.88 in the control group (P-value = 0.053). At the trial's end, intervention group scores decreased to 28.40 ± 2.42, markedly lower than the control group's 42.59 ± 1.50 (P-value < 0.001). In this study, we report the safety, tolerability, and substantial fatigue-relieving effects of Amantadine in post-COVID-19 fatigue. The intervention demonstrates a statistically significant reduction in fatigue levels, suggesting Amantadine's potential as an effective treatment for this persistent condition.

18 January, 2024

Attitudes Toward And Management Of Fibromyalgia: A National Survey Of Saudi Arab’s Medical Practitioners.

Widespread pain is characteristic of fibromyalgia. Patients consult different specialities, and hence, diagnosis and treatment is often delayed. To evaluate and assess the attitudes and management of fibromyalgia among medical practitioners in Saudi Arabia a cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire in November 2021. Screening demographics included age, sex, place of work, speciality, year of graduation, and practical experience. Questions about fibromyalgia (general knowledge and management, ACR criteria 2010, essential symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment) were also part of the questionnaire. There were 103 respondents, out of which 88(85.4%) have heard about fibromyalgia and 21(20.4%) had managed cases of fibromyalgia, while 32(31.1%) knew about the 2010 ACR diagnostic criteria. Commonest reported characteristics of fibromyalgia were excessive fatigue 74(71.8%), widespread pain 71(68.9%), weakness 54(52.4%), and sleep disturbance 38(36.9%). About 76(73.8% reported it is a clinical diagnosis and 75(72.6%) reported having the knowledge about the treatment of fibromyalgia. It was concluded that 88(85.4%) practitioners know fibromyalgia. However, knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia was not satisfactory.

18 January, 2024

Post-COVID Dysautonomias: What We Know And (Mainly) What We Don’t Know

Following on from the COVID-19 pandemic is another worldwide public health challenge that is referred to variously as long COVID, post-COVID syndrome or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). PASC comes in many forms and affects all body organs. This heterogeneous presentation suggests involvement of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which has numerous roles in the maintenance of homeostasis and coordination of responses to various stressors. Thus far, studies of ANS dysregulation in people with PASC have been largely observational and descriptive, based on symptom inventories or objective but indirect measures of cardiovascular function, and have paid little attention to the adrenomedullary, hormonal and enteric nervous components of the ANS. Such investigations do not consider the syndromic nature of autonomic dysfunction. This Review provides an update on the literature relating to ANS abnormalities in people with post-COVID syndrome and presents a theoretical perspective on how the ANS might participate in common features of PASC.

17 January, 2024

A Discovery In The Muscles Of Long COVID Patients May Explain Exercise Troubles

You know that feeling of muscle soreness a day or so after you've done a tough workout? Now imagine that but much more. That's what some people with long COVID face after they exercise. And as NPR's Will Stone reports, new research is giving scientists a clearer picture of what may be going on.

17 January, 2024

Ardrossan: Billboard Placed To Highlight Long-Term Covid Impacts

A billboard has been placed in Ardrossan, Scotland, to highlight some of the long-term impacts of the Covid-19 virus.

16 January, 2024

Fibromyalgia, Free Drugs In Liguria Also In 2024

Regional Council in Italy allocates 80 thousand Euros for free Fibromyalgia treatment.

16 January, 2024

Strenuous Exercise Can Trigger Severe Damage To Muscle Tissue, Says Study On Long Covid

Exercise is good for health, but it can be harmful for some long Covid sufferers, new research shows. Those experiencing debilitating crashes after strenuous activity – a condition known as post-exertional malaise – risk severe tissue damage from hardcore exercise, scientists in the Netherlands found.