A new multicentric study led by research institutes in Pune and Mumbai has revealed that many Indians continue to experience long Covid symptoms even four years after their initial infection. This investigation is among the few Indian studies to document the condition’s long-term impact in such detail.
The study involved collaboration between ICMR, the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Mumbai unit, NIV Pune, Noble Hospital and Research Centre, and BJMC and Sassoon General Hospital, among others. It analysed 187 participants, including 104 individuals living with persistent symptoms. Senior virologists such as Dr Madhu Mohanty, Dr Priya Abraham and Dr Yogesh Gurav coordinated the study design and data collection across multiple centres.
Fatigue Remains the Most Common Symptom
Researchers found that fatigue remained the leading complaint among long Covid patients. Many also reported cough, anxiety and palpitations, while dermatological, muscular, ENT and gastrointestinal symptoms fluctuated over time. Importantly, several participants said their work capacity dropped—sometimes by nearly 50%.
Although respiratory, cardiovascular and neuro-psychiatric symptoms gradually declined, the study still documented significant lingering health issues.
Breathlessness and Impaired Lung Function Persist for Years
According to the researchers, some patients continued to experience shortness of breath after routine or moderate activity even three years after infection. They noted growing evidence of impaired pulmonary function in individuals with long Covid.
The study, published in the Journal of Infection and Public Health, reported that long Covid patients showed lower oxygen saturation, higher pulse rates and were more likely to lead sedentary lifestyles.
Severity of Initial Infection Strongly Linked to Long Covid
As reported by TOI, the researchers observed that individuals who had severe Covid, required mechanical ventilation or received Remdesivir during the acute phase faced a higher risk of developing long Covid. Additionally, people infected during the Omicron wave reported a larger cluster of symptoms—sometimes more than ten—even though Omicron was widely considered milder.
Challenges in Recruitment Limited Study Size
Dr Ameet Dravid, infectious diseases specialist at Noble Hospital and a key recruiter for the study, explained that real-world challenges affected the relatively small sample size. He noted that the study started only in 2023, three years after the pandemic began, and that strict exclusion criteria slowed participant enrolment.
“Everyone we managed to include had symptoms lasting four or even five years after their first infection,” Dr Dravid said. He added that tracking participants was difficult due to large-scale migration in the post-pandemic period.
Long Covid Patients Often Dismissed, Experts Warn
Dr Dravid also highlighted a common issue faced by long Covid patients: many were dismissed as having psychological problems when they sought medical help. “But it’s not so,” he said. “Long Covid hit them so hard that they haven’t returned to the person they were before the infection.”
Conclusion
This study adds crucial long-term data to India’s understanding of long Covid, underscoring the need for better recognition, diagnosis and care for those living with prolonged symptoms years after their initial infection.