One in five asymptomatic patients develop long Covid

Almost a fifth of Covid patients without symptoms went on to experience conditions consistent with long Covid a month after their initial diagnosis, according to a huge study published Tuesday. 

The analysis by non-profit FAIR Health encompassed insurance claims from 1.96 million Americans -- the largest population of patients ever studied for long Covid -- from February 2020 to February 2021.

"Long Covid" refers to symptoms of the disease that persist more than four weeks after being diagnosed.

The study found that across all ages, the most common post viral conditions were in order of frequency: pain, breathing difficulties, high cholesterol, general discomfort and fatigue, and high blood pressure.

The odds of dying 30 days or more after initially being diagnosed with Covid were 46 times higher for patients who were hospitalized with Covid and discharged compared to those who weren't

Most long Covid conditions were associated more with females than males.  A quarter of all such cases occurred among individuals aged 19-29.

The causes of long Covid remain unknown.