Long COVID research identifies Post-exertional Malaise (PEM), how exercise can be harmful and the need for pacing

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Research Digest 30/3/23

Welcome to the Research Digest’s 93rd edition. This month's edition summarises research that investigates factors that influence the prognosis of ME/CFS and demonstrates that high muscle sodium content, maybe a contributing factor to the pathophysiology of ME/CFS. A review is also highlighted that conveys what is presently known about Long COVID and finally, a local study sheds light on brain structure changes that are common to Long COVID and ME/CFS.
Run Melbourne 2023

We're participating in Run Melbourne 2023. Join now to help reach our goal by running, walking or performing your own activity with us!
Tom’s buzz for ME/CFS

I'm fundraising to give hope and help to the 250,000 people living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) across Australia, including my older brother Zach.
GP Education at GPCE in 2023

We know how difficult it is to find a GP with knowledge of ME/CFS. One of the main aims for our GP education program is to grow the GP workforce confident to take on people with complex presentations.

New research reinforces the many symptoms shared by those living with ME/CFS and Long COVID

This editorial draws together findings from several articles in the journal’s special issue about ME/CFS. As the title of the article suggests, the authors argue we are currently “turning a corner” in ME/CFS research.
Global literature review reveals 25 of 29 ME/CFS symptoms are shared by those with Long COVID

The overlap is even greater than we thought. Global literature review reveals 25 of 29 ME/CFS symptoms are shared by those with Long COVID.
Link between Long COVID and ME/CFS could transform the lives of those impacted

UK Times article on how the focus Long COVID is bringing to post-viral fatigue conditions could transform the lives of all those living with them.
From scientific papers to a national newspaper

Emerge Australia is pleased to have launched the latest element of our awareness campaign with a full-page advert in the Australian Financial Review to give ME/CFS a voice in the national Long COVID conversation.
Could Long COVID be the best thing that ever happened to ME/CFS?

It's called Long COVID, often Long-haul COVID and sometimes Post Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Last week the World Health Organisation announced a definition for what it calls "post COVID-19 condition", affecting people at least two months after a COVID-19 infection with symptoms that “cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis”.
Article highlights how well-funded Long COVID research offers opportunities to better understand ME/CFS

In early 2020, Alison Sbrana watched the coronavirus skip from China across continents with a sense of impending doom.
Using learnings from ME/CFS studies, Long COVID research is bringing new hope of better diagnosis and treatment for both conditions

Up to an estimated 20% of people who survive COVID-19 will have persistent symptoms with no obvious organ damage. This is also known as post-COVID-19 syndrome, or Long COVID. The symptoms of Long COVID overlap with those of other post-infectious conditions like ME/CFS.
Long COVID research identifies Post-exertional Malaise (PEM), how exercise can be harmful and the need for pacing

The first principle of helping patients manage Long COVID, and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), should be to “do no harm”. Patients and healthcare workers have tried to speed up recovery from Long COVID with exercise-based rehabilitation.
US research highlights shared biological abnormalities of ME/CFS and Long COVID

This paper identifies similar biological changes in people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and acute COVID-19. The authors suggest that these changes may lead to what has become known as Long COVID, which also shares similarities with ME/CFS.
Seven-month global study confirms the striking similarities between ME/CFS and Long COVID

This global study asked Long COVID patients from 56 countries about their symptoms during the previous 7-months. Results revealed striking similarities between ME/CFS and Long COVID.