A new study from Statistic Canada (StatCan) shows nearly 15% of those who've contracted COVID-19 say they've experienced lingering symptoms. .The survey results found lasting symptoms, referred to as long COVID, were experienced for three months or longer after the initial infection. Those symptoms included fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, persistent cough, and other health issues. .The StatCan results shows nearly one-third (32%) of Canadians 18 and older say they tested positive for COVID-19, while 8.3% said they suspected they had the virus. .Results from the data — collected by StatCan from April 1 to August 15 — "show that 14.8% of Canadian adults who had or thought they had COVID-19 still experienced symptoms at least three months after their initial infection.".Roughly, 1.4 million Canadian adults, or 4.6% of the adult Canadian population, claim to have lingering symptoms at least three months post infection..Although symptoms of infection varied from person to person, overall 5.2% said they had no symptoms, 34.2% said their symptoms were mild, 43.9% rated their symptoms as moderate, and 16.7% rated symptoms as severe. .A higher percentage of women reported moderate to severe symptoms as compared to men. .In a breakdown of long-term symptoms, 72.1% reported they experienced lingering fatigue, 39.3% reported a persistent cough, 38.5% reported shortness of breath, and 32.9% said they had lasting brain fog. .Although research is ongoing, the study suggests those who suffered more severe illness with their first COVID-19 infection are likely at a greater risk of having prolonged and recurrent symptoms. .Following the emergence of the Omicron strain in December, less Canadians reported having lasting symptoms after an infection. Before Omicron, 25.8% of Canadian adults reported they had symptoms at least three months after their infection, compared to 10.5% after December. .Of those who reported lasting symptoms, 32.5% said they fully recovered from their initial symptoms before some returned. .StatCan said it is "committed to expanding the understanding of COVID-19" and will continue its research and provide regular updates.
