New Research Offers Hope for Tackling Long COVID's Economic Toll

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Long COVID has become a significant economic burden, with conservative estimates placing the cost of existing cases at up to $6.6 billion. However, recent research is shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of Long COVID, paving the way for more targeted interventions and improved treatment protocols. Discoveries include the role of lung macrophage peroxisomes, a unique protein signature associated with breathlessness, genetic links, and the overlap with ME/CFS research. Advances in AI-powered diagnosis are also promising for the future of Long COVID care.

Why it matters

As the understanding of Long COVID deepens, the potential for developing effective therapies and mitigating the disease's economic impact grows. The research highlighted in this article offers hope for addressing the far-reaching consequences of this complex condition, which has become a substantial drag on the US economy.

The details

Researchers have made several key discoveries that could lead to better treatments for Long COVID. A team at the University of Virginia found that elevated interferon levels disrupt lung macrophage peroxisomes, hindering their ability to neutralize oxidants and repair tissue. The FDA-approved drug sodium 4-phenylbutyrate showed promise in reversing these issues and reducing symptoms in a mouse model. Researchers at Cardiff University and the Karolinska Institute have identified a unique protein signature in individuals with Long COVID-associated breathlessness, suggesting inflammation and blood clotting may be damaging lung tissues. Genome-wide association studies have also revealed a genetic link, with variants of the FOXP4 gene significantly increasing the risk of developing Long COVID. Additionally, the overlap in treatment responses between ME/CFS and Long COVID suggests valuable insights from ME/CFS research can be directly applied to Long COVID care.

• The research team at the University of Virginia, led by Dr. Jie Sun, conducted their study on lung macrophage peroxisomes and the effects of the FDA-approved drug sodium 4-phenylbutyrate.
• Dr. David Price (Cardiff University) and Dr. Marcus Buggert (Karolinska Institute) identified the unique protein signature associated with Long COVID-related breathlessness.
• Genome-wide association studies analyzing data from two million people, led by Dr. Hanna Ollila (University of Helsinki) and Dr. Hugo Zeberg (Karolinska Institute), revealed the genetic link to Long COVID.
• Dr. Ronald Davis (Stanford) and Dr. Wenzhong Xiao (Harvard) surveyed thousands of patients and discovered the overlap in treatment responses between ME/CFS and Long COVID.
• The NIH RECOVER Initiative, led by Dr. Emily Pfaff (University of North Carolina), has updated its artificial intelligence algorithm for identifying adults with Long COVID using electronic health records.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.