Flawed body of research indicates true ‘long covid’ risk likely exaggerated

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2024-11-13 23:30:07

Overly broad definitions and lack of comparator groups have distorted risk, say researchers Leading to increased public anxiety and healthcare spend; misdiagnoses; diversion of funds

Major flaws in the current body of published research on ‘long COVID’ have likely greatly exaggerated the true risks of developing the condition, suggests an analysis published in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine.

Overly broad definitions, a lack of appropriate, or any, comparison groups, among other things, in studies looking at the incidence, prevalence, and control of the condition—epidemiology—have distorted the risks, say the researchers.

This is further compounded by inclusion of poorly conducted studies into systematic reviews and pooled data analyses that end up overstating the risk yet again, they add. 

The likely consequences of this include, but aren’t limited to, increased public anxiety and healthcare spend; misdiagnoses; and diversion of funds from those who really do have other long term conditions secondary to COVID-19 infection, suggest the researchers.

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