Ziyad Al-Aly, MD
@zalaly
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Physician-Scientist | TIME100 Health https://t.co/AXG4WotuRc Profile: https://t.co/ywweQn5DHA…
Joined February 2009
My full testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Video here thanks to @luckytran . 👇.
"The burden of disease and disability from Long COVID is on par with the burden of cancer and heart disease. The best way to prevent Long COVID is to prevent COVID in the first place. There is no Long COVID without COVID.". Brilliant testimony by @zalaly! #HELPLongCovid
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For decades, the junk food industry has deliberately engineered foods to be addictive. Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs have helped people break free from this cycle. In response, the industry is now searching for ways to counteract the effects of these medications, aiming to design.
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True leadership by Austrian physicians. “COVID-19 is not a cold. It is not influenza. It is a systemic, vascular-damaging disease that only spreads via the respiratory route, via aerosols. COVID is neither over, nor is it a harmless infection without consequences.”. Read🧵below.
🧵 Austrian physicans: . "We CAN’T take responsibility for the constant, unmitigated infection of the population w/ a vascular-damaging, neurotropic virus like SARS-CoV-2, in which a previous infection provides no long-term protection vs future infection.”.
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This is the story of 16-year-old Cara who stopped wearing a mask after being bullied at school, bringing COVID home to her immunocompromised mother, who tragically died as a result. These stories must be told and we must learn from them.
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Here is the latest from our team in @NatureMedicine. Should you protect yourself from Covid-19 reinfection . Yes!. Reinfection is not benign; it is best to avoid it. by @Bcbowe @Biostayan @zalaly. A thread 🧵.
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Today I testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions. I called for the establishment of a new multidisciplinary research institute to address Infection Associated Chronic Conditions . Solving these requires a long-term coordinated approach
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1/ 📣 New from my team in @NatureMedicine. In a study of 6 million people, we examined risk trajectories of 80 components of Long Covid over 2 years post-infection. 📌 Risks remained elevated for many Long Covid conditions even 2 years infection. A 🧵.
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I am not afraid! .But the post below is NOT ok. Someone who has 90 k followers is calling for my execution. I reported it, but it has not been removed yet. It has been there for 13 hours. This is NOT ok.
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This is very important for people to understand. Immunity against SARS-CoV-2 - wanes/declines/disappears with time (months). This applies to immunity from natural infection and vaccine-derived immunity.
In a recent interview, Fauci puts the C19 herd immunity fantasy to bed once and for all. No such thing can ever be achieved, due to lack of immune response durability
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We are experiencing a Covid surge. Here are some facts. Covid leads to more hospitalizations than flu.Covid leads to more deaths than flu.Covid is NOT seasonal; flu is.Even mild COVID can cause #LongCovid . According to CDC, COVID hospitalization rates are double those of the flu
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🧵1/ A Significant surge in the number of people with a disability in the U.S. The @stlouisfed just released an analysis using data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), revealing some concerning trends. Here’s what they found:. #Disability #DisabilityJustice #LongCovid
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I talked to @TIME magazine about covid reinfection. I wish we lived in a world where getting repeat infections doesn’t matter, but the reality is that‘s not the case. Thanks to @AliceParkNY for this brilliant piece.
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Honored and grateful to be included in TIME's list of the 100 Most Influential People in health. See the full list here: #TIME100HEALTH @TIME
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Some media outlets are reporting on our study saying "Most patients with Long Covid have recovered after 3 years". No! Not accurate. Even people with mild COVID were still having new health problems 3 years after infection. 🧵
📣 New paper in @NatureMedicine. Three-year outcomes of post-acute sequelae.of COVID-19. By Miao Cai @Biostayan @EricTopol and me. A 🧵.
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📢Our review "Long COVID science, research and policy" is out in @NatureMedicine. By @zalaly @ahandvanish @LisaAMcCorkell @leticiasaurus @swulfie @VirusesImmunity @EricTopol. A thread.
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In 2024, the facts are clear: COVID far outpaced flu in infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. COVID also carries the added burden of long COVID, a far more complex, multi-system condition than the long-term effects seen with flu. COVID is not like the flu. It never was!.
A #myth is circulating (unfortunately spread and amplified by a famous virologist) claiming that #Covid is now like influenza. These claims are false. #Epidemiology professor @zalaly puts the record straight: . Covid-19 ist NOT like influenza.*
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Mounting research shows that COVID-19 leaves its mark on the brain. My piece in @ConversationUS on two new papers in @NEJM , what we know so far and the implications. Link below.
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Here is the first randomized trial to show that an antiviral can prevent Long Covid. In the PANORAMIC trial, people randomized to molnupiravir had less risk of Long Covid than people who received no antivirals . My comment in the link below. A short🧵.
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Revisiting the long-term health effects of Covid vs flu. 3 key points. 1. Covid is worse than flu. 2. Covid is more multisystemic; flu is more respiratory. 3. Both covid and flu cause more health loss in the long-term than what is evident around the time of acute infection.
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The discussions we had on yesterday must translate into concrete actions that address the needs of people with #LongCovid, ME/CFS & other infection-associated chronic conditions. We have a lot of work ahead. It is all-hands-on-deck situation. We need every one of you!
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The National Academy of Medicine report on #LongCovid is out. Long Covid is a complex chronic condition that affects several body systems; it can lead to decreased physical & cognitive functioning, poor quality of life & inability to work. Our committee worked on it for 2 years.
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📣 New in @ScienceMagazine. I teamed up with @EricTopol to write this #SciencePerspective on Long Covid. Solving the puzzle of #LongCovid. A long 🧵.
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📣 New paper in @NatureMedicine. Three-year outcomes of post-acute sequelae.of COVID-19. By Miao Cai @Biostayan @EricTopol and me. A 🧵.
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The latest from our team in @NatureMedicine. The long-term neurologic consequences of #COVID19. A thread 🧵. by @evanjxu @Biostayan @zalaly.
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My piece on Covid and brain health in Scientific American @sciam . Even mild Covid can lead to significant decline in brain health .
Research shows that even mild COVID-19 can lead to the equivalent of seven years of brain aging
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I told @ScienceMagazine that I advocate for boosters for all. The argument that only the old and immunocompromised benefit from boosters misses the point that younger adults are also at risk of severe disease and will also benefit (albeit less than older).
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Long COVID puzzle pieces are falling into place – the picture is unsettling!. My piece in The Conversation @ConversationUS .
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On the invitation of Senator @SenSanders and @BillCassidy , I will be testifying before the U.S. Senate H.E.L.P Committee Hearing on #LongCovid . Thursday Jan 18, 2024. Hearing Title: Addressing Long COVID: Advancing Research and Improving Patient Care. 👇.
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Is covid still deadlier than the flu in 2023?. The short answer is yes. New from our team in @JAMA_current. By @Biostayan Taeyoung Choi and @zalaly. A thread 🧵.
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I am increasingly worried about bird flu - it has pandemic potential . 96 cow herds in 12 states.3 human cases so far - one with respiratory symptoms. This can and must be contained - if lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic are heeded. Piece in @NatureMed.
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Long Covid is costing economies billions. #LongCovid is expected to cost the U.S. economy $ 152 billion in 2024 alone. GDP losses for several countries are detailed below. Data from this report by @TheEconomist.
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My Statement on the introduction of the Long COVID Research Moonshot Act #LongCovidMoonshot. I fully support this bill and urge the U.S. Congress and our community to support it. Short thread:
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People with Long Covid are being told: "it is in your head". This is NOT what the evidence says. Terrific work by @VirusesImmunity @PutrinoLab & others in @nature provides objective evidence of significant differences in immune profiles of people with Long Covid vs controls.
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Here is a new thread on our latest study without the full C word - to avoid suppression by the algo . C=kovd. Is C still deadlier than the flu in 2023?. The short answer is yes. New from our team in @JAMA_current. By @Biostayan, Taeyoung Choi and @zalaly.
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400 million reasons to care about #LongCovid . ICYMI: our review on #LongCovid in @NatureMedicine . Long Covid has affected at least 400 million people worldwide at a cost of $1 trillion per year. #LongCovid is a defining health crisis of our time!.
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Delighted to see this!!!!. @SenSanders releases a draft legislative proposal to address Long COVID. $1 billion per year for 10 years. This is a significant step in the right direction. Thank you @SenSanders for your leadership!!!!.
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3 key messages from our recent paper in @TheLancetInfDis . 1. Covid is worse than flu . Covid remains a much more serious threat to human health than the flu.
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Elevating my thread on the consequences of #reinfection. Reinfection contributes additional risks in both acute phase and post-acute ( #LongCovid ) phase. 2 infections are worse than 1.3 worse than 2. It is absolutely worth it to protect yourself from getting reinfection.
Here is the latest from our team in @NatureMedicine. Should you protect yourself from Covid-19 reinfection . Yes!. Reinfection is not benign; it is best to avoid it. by @Bcbowe @Biostayan @zalaly. A thread 🧵.
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Paxlovid can prevent #LongCovid. The latest from our team in @JAMAInternalMed. by @Biostayan @TaeyoungChoi93 @zalaly. A thread.
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Outstanding and comprehensive review of #LongCovid . A tour de force by the exceptional @ahandvanish @LisaAMcCorkell @julialmv @EricTopol who are in my view the true heroes of this pandemic . In @NatureRevMicro .
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Compared to people who did not get reinfection, those with reinfection had . 2 fold increased risk of death. 3 fold increased risk of hospitalization . 3 fold increased risk of heart problems. 3 fold increased risk of blood clotting .
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COVID is a serious risk factor for cardiovascular disease; it increases risks of heart attacks, strokes, and even death long after infection. Great analysis by @cbarbermd in @FortuneMagazine
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The economic cost of #LongCovid covid is staggering!. In the US, #LongCovid could result in 1.5 billion work hours lost in 2024 – a potential cost of more than US$152.6 billion . A report by @TheEconomist .
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3/ Cognitive Disabilities Skyrocket.Most alarming is the rise in cognitive disabilities. The population reporting only a cognitive disability has grown by nearly 1 million—a 43% increase since 2019.
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Is Covid still deadlier than the flu in 2024?. The short answer is yes! . In 2024, Covid remains deadlier than flu. New research from my team in @JAMA_current. By @Biostayan Taeyoung Choi and @zalaly. A thread 🧵.
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Long Covid is a significant health crisis affecting more than 400 million people with a price tag of $1 trillion per year. Great piece by @cbarbermd .#LongCovid .
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The latest from our team in @NatureMedicine. Does vaccination protect from #LongCovid?. Vaccines modestly reduce but do not eliminate risk of Long Covid . @VAResearch @vahsrd @WUSTLmed @WUSTLnews @VREFSTL. @Biostayan @BCBowe . . A thread 🧵.
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Long-term impact of covid is systemic and much more than flu. 2 large cohorts from S Korea and Japan (>20 million people) . Covid increased risk of autoimmune rheumatic diseases compared non-infected controls and compared to flu. @MinSeoKim_MD.
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🚨 Long COVID is a significant health crisis in China too!. My commentary on the largest Chinese study to date, involving 74,075 participants, which found that 10-30% of them reported long COVID symptoms such as fatigue and brain fog #LongCovid.
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COVID increases risk of diabetes. This has now been demonstrated in many studies including the largest (more than 16 million) in @TheLancetEndo . Paper My comment here.
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Our #LongCovid review is free to access again for the next few months. If you'd like a copy, download it now to keep in your files. It will move behind a paywall in about 6 months. Thanks to the editors of @NatureMedicine for making this possible!.
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The big revelation here is that the risk persists for 3 years in several organ systems (e.g. GI and nervous system) even 3 years after a mild infection. Healthcare professionals are taught that acute infections as short-term events with health effects that manifest around the.
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The effort to address Long Covid must match the scale and urgency of the problem. #LongCovid.
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I told the Financial Times @FT that Long Covid results in a staggeringly high burden of disability & disease. Our effort to address Long Covid must match its scale & urgency. Treatment trials must be done at scale and urgently. A piece by @hannahkuchler .
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I spoke to @NPR @Marketplace about the financial burden of protecting oneself from the hazards of COVID. The government has a duty to protect its people. Businesses also have a duty to ensure that their employees have a safe working environment. @sam__fields.
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The world must not turn its back on people with Long Covid. Long Covid is a significant global challenge that must decisively addressed. My statement on #LongCovidAwarenessDay. #LongCovidAwarenessDay #ActOnLongCovid #LongCovid. 👇👇
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📣 Our new paper in @NEJM. Has the risk of #LongCovid changed over the course of the pandemic?. By @Biostayan, Taeyoung Choi and me. A 🧵.
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What does this mean for you?. If you have Covid once, twice, three or more times, . and . even if you are vaccinated and boosted. It is absolutely worth it to protect yourself from getting covid again.
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Thank you Chairman @SenSanders for your leadership. We need a coordinated long-term approach to address the challenge of #LongCovid and chronic illnesses that are caused by acute infections.
Thank you to the panelists and every person who tuned in to the long COVID hearing this week. This serious issue has not received the attention that it deserves from the medical community, from the media, and certainly not from Congress. It is past time that changes.
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ICYMI #LongCovid is a defining crisis of our time. Long Covid affects at least 400 million people globally with an economic cost of $1 trillion/yr. Addressing Long Covid requires a coordinated—but so far absent—response strategy. Our review @NatureMedicine.
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Long Covid is serious — best to avoid it. Don’t trivialize reinfection — if you dodged the bullet the first time, you may not be so lucky the second time. Thanks again to @BurnetInstitute for the honor of giving the 2023 Burnet Oration . Summary with comments from @CrabbBrendan.
Data shows the risks of #COVID19 are higher than seasonal influenza because of the "extensive" organ involvement, @zalaly said during his keynote address at the Burnet Oration. "We found #LongCOVID can affect nearly every organ system," he said. Read more:
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While I talked about hospitalization in the previous tweet, I want to make it clear that most people with Long Covid had mild COVID-19. In fact, 90% of people with Long Covid had mild.COVID-19.
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People really need to understand that reinfection is not without consequences. The evidence is clear. Yes. You can still get very sick with reinfection. Yes. You can get Long Covid with reinfection.
@zalaly @EricTopol @latimes Dr Al-Aly…. people still aren’t getting your message. Posted on the last hour.
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It gets wilder. One of the researchers who is helping design this new generation of addictive foods is on GLP-1!!!!!!!.
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ICYMI here is our comprehensive review of Long Covid. Long Covid affects at least 400 million lives at a cost of $ 1 trillion annually. We outline a forward looking policy and research roadmap to address the crisis of #LongCovid.
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My interview with @statnews about covid reinfection and long covid . #LongCovid #reinfection. Thanks @cooney_liz !.
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📣 New from my team in @TheLancetInfDis. Long-term outcomes of people hospitalized for COVID-19 vs seasonal influenza. A 🧵.
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Data from @StatCan_eng showing reinfection contributes additional risk of #LongCovid. How many cases of #LongCovid could have been prevented if we took reinfection seriously?.
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.@VP needs to articulate a clear and comprehensive plan to address the crisis of #LongCovid. Many Americans like Martha (in this video) are severely impacted by Long Covid, have lost their jobs and incomes, and are waiting far too long for disability support.
this is a very emotional town hall. Harris takes a question from a homeless woman whose life was wrecked by long covid about what she'll do for people like her
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The economic consequences of COVID-19 are huge. Report from @TheEconomist forecasts 0.75% GDP loss in 2025 due to SARS-CoV-2 infections. This equates to ~ $200 billion in US. Reducing burden of Covid is not only the right public health approach, it is
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COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising . Please remember 2 things:. 1) Reinfection is not benign; it can lead to health problems in both acute and post-acute #LongCovid phases of covid. 2 infections are worse than 1.3 worse than 2.
Here is the latest from our team in @NatureMedicine. Should you protect yourself from Covid-19 reinfection . Yes!. Reinfection is not benign; it is best to avoid it. by @Bcbowe @Biostayan @zalaly. A thread 🧵.
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This absolutely must change!!!!. We developed vaccines at warp speed. We are doing trials for Long Covid at snail speed. This MUST change!. #LongCovid.
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Covid leaves its mark on the brain!. Reposting my piece in @ConversationUS on Covid and brain health . #LongCovid.
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#LongCovid is a defining health crisis of our time!. In case you missed it: Our review on #LongCovid in @NatureMedicine . Long Covid has impacted at least 400 million people at an annual cost of $1 trillion. 🧵here:
📢Our review "Long COVID science, research and policy" is out in @NatureMedicine. By @zalaly @ahandvanish @LisaAMcCorkell @leticiasaurus @swulfie @VirusesImmunity @EricTopol. A thread.
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🚨 Coming Soon: We're publishing a major review on Long COVID and a comprehensive roadmap for policy and research priorities. 🗓️ Release Date: Friday, August 9, 5:00 AM ET. 📣 Journalists who are interested in covering this, please contact us via email.
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Is Covid still deadlier than the flu in 2024?. The short answer is yes! . In 2024, Covid remains deadlier than flu. New research from my team in @JAMA_current. By @Biostayan Taeyoung Choi and @zalaly. A thread with the correct links🧵.
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Compared to noninfected controls, cumulative risks of repeat infection increased according to the number of infections. Every reinfection contributes additional risk. 3 infections worse than 2. 2 infections worse than 1. 1 infection worse than none .
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A signifiant Covid surge is underway in the US!. Hospitalization rates (4/100,000 people) are on par with what we have seen in February 2024 and more than twice as high as last summer!.
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The number of working-age individuals with disabilities in the U.S. has grown rapidly, increasing by more than 10% in the past 4 years. Important analysis by the US Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis @stlouisfed . Short thread.
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Impaired cognition after COVID. Editorial in @NEJM by Cliff Rosen and myself. With an illustration of mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in #LongCovid 👇
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Elevating my post on reinfection. Bottom line: Reinfection is not inconsequential; best to avoid it. More details in thread 🧵 below👇.
Here is the latest from our team in @NatureMedicine. Should you protect yourself from Covid-19 reinfection . Yes!. Reinfection is not benign; it is best to avoid it. by @Bcbowe @Biostayan @zalaly. A thread 🧵.
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Reinfection also increased risk of . Diabetes.Fatigue.Kidney problems.Mental health disorders.Musculoskeletal problems.Neurologic disorders.Lung problems .
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1. What are the benefits and risks of GLP1?. Our new study in @naturemedicine comprehensively maps all the benefits and risks of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1) (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound). By @Biostayan, Taeyoung Choi and me.🧵.
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🚨 The economic toll of #LongCOVID in Australia is huge!. In 2022 alone, 102.4 million work hours were lost, leading to a GDP hit of $9.6 billion—or 0.5% GDP. This effectively wiped out a quarter of the country’s GDP growth for the year @Globalbiosec.
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I talked to @CBCRadioCanada about the effects of Covid on brain health . Thanks to host Bob McDonald and producer Amanda Buckiewicz . Link to the news article and radio interview below.
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Senator Sanders @SenSanders announces that he will soon be introducing legislation to expand the federal effort to tackle the Long Covid crisis in the U.S. @SenSanders is the Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions. #LongCovidAwarenessDay.
We cannot ignore the public health crisis that is Long COVID. On Long COVID Awareness Day, let us commit to doing everything we can to address this horrible condition. The U.S. government must do more to increase awareness and provide additional resources to develop treatments.
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✨I’m thrilled to be one of the speakers at the 2024 inaugural TIME100 Health Leadership Forum in New York City today. After the event, the highlights will be available on @TIME #TIME100HEALTH
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How do we move forward?. Reinfections are not benign and will continue to happen until. We have vaccines that. a. block transmission.b. offer durable protection .c. variant proof . We also need prevention and treatment strategies for #LongCovid.
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Long Covid research must be treated with urgency; bureaucratic delays are not acceptable. The UK and the world need a coherent research strategy for #LongCovid and this must include speedy regulatory approval and long-term funding. h/t @amibanerjee1 .
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Long COVID puzzle pieces are falling into place – the picture is unsettling. My piece in The Conversation @ConversationUS.
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Senator Bernie Sanders @SenSanders has just introduced a U.S. Resolution designating March 15, 2024, as "Long COVID Awareness Day". Thank you @SenSanders for your outstanding leadership!!!!.
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