University of Derby leads study into long-covid

Scientists from the University of Derby are leading a pioneering study to improve the lives of people suffering from long-covid.

It's estimated more than a hundred million people worldwide have experienced lingering symptoms and health problems after getting the virus.

The study will start by carrying out physical and psychological tests with patients, to understand more about the illness.

Dr Mark Faghy, the associate professor who is leading the study, said: "At one end of the spectrum we might have people who have fatigue or brain fog, at the other end we have really debilitating symptoms that have a profound impact on daily life.

"We have people who were regularly active before covid really struggling to engage with activities like showering, going upstairs or walking to the shops.

"We want to understand what recovery looks like for those patients. So over a period of 16 weeks patients work really closely with our research team at the university and the hospital, to try and profile what changes in those symptoms occur. It's so we can identify when opportunities for support mechanisms and interventions can be overlaid."