Research on Long COVID involving more than 10,000 adults found no diagnostic lab markers, but noted increased risks of diabetes and kidney disease linked to past SARS-CoV-2 infections. Of 25 routine clinical lab tests, not one can aid in diagnosing post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (Long COVID). Over 10,000 participants were analyzed in a study to explore Long COVID’s clinical markers and health implications.
Results indicated no effective laboratory markers for PASC, but suggested connections between prior SARS-CoV-2 infections, heightened diabetes risk, and early signs of kidney disease. A national cohort study of adult participants with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection found that there are no objective tests to accurately diagnose post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), also known as Long COVID. Data also suggested that many of the long-term PASC symptoms are due to ongoing inflammation, rather than viral invasion of the affected area.
The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine . Findings from the RECOVER Trial Researchers from the National Institutes of Health studied more than 10,000 adult patients enrolled in the RECOVER (Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery) trial to investigate clinical laboratory markers of SARS-CoV-2 and PASC. Because a baseline was necessary to compare variables, adults were eligible to participate in the study regardless of prior infection of SARS-CoV-2.
The researchers compared questionnaire responses and routi.