HEALTH

Scientists have indicated that in the future, certain tests may have the capability to identify the markers associated with prolonged symptoms of COVID-19. A recent study published in Nature has utilized blood tests to gain new insights into the biological markers linked to this collection of enigmatic conditions reported by a significant number of Americans. By employing machine learning techniques, researchers examined immune markers and hormone levels in 273 adult participants from Mount Sinai and Yale University who had experienced COVID-19, comparing those with and without long-lasting symptoms at least one year after infection.

In this study, long COVID was defined as the persistence of symptoms for more than six weeks following infection. It was found that individuals with long COVID exhibited lower levels of cortisol, a hormone, and displayed distinct variations in certain immune cells and inflammatory markers present in the bloodstream. These levels can be identified through blood tests; however, it is important to note that there is currently no specific blood test designed specifically for long COVID. Dr. Alison Morris, the division chief of pulmonary, allergy, critical care, and sleep medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, stated that these findings suggest potential mechanisms underlying long COVID that could potentially be targeted for treatment. Additionally, these findings may aid in the identification of patients suffering from long COVID.

Dr. Shari Barnett Brosnahan, an assistant professor in the division of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at New York University Langone Health System, who was not involved in the study, described it as a remarkable piece of research. However, she also emphasized that the analysis conducted in the study was limited, and further research is necessary to fully comprehend the significance of these findings.

Given the relatively small sample size of this study, researchers emphasize the need for additional studies to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the implications of these findings.