Two studies published today in the European Respiratory Journal describe long-COVID findings, one revealing signs of autoimmune disease in 41% of blood samples taken 1 year after recovery, and the other showing that 23% of patients still had exercise intolerance a year after hospital release.

"These results point towards the need to test for signs of autoimmune disease in patients with symptoms of long COVID that last for a year or more," senior author Manali Mukherjee, PhD, of McMaster University, said in a European Lung Foundation news release.

In a McMaster news release, Mukherjee added, "Generally, one should not worry if they are feeling unwell right after their infection, as the chances of recovering within 12 months is very high, and just because you have typical long COVID symptoms at three months does not mean they will stay forever.

In the second study, Norwegian researchers assessed cardiopulmonary exercise test results in 210 COVID-19 patients 12 months after hospital release, as well as changes in cardiopulmonary function from 3 to 12 months.