A third of Long Covid sufferers could show signs of kidney problems, says new study

Over a third of Long Covid sufferers could show signs of kidney damage or loss of function, according to a new study.

Researchers from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in the US found that Covid could age the vital organs by 30 years - with over 35 percent of people affected.

Writing in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, lead scientist Dr Ziyad Al-Aly said the team had tested 89,000 veterans and analysed further data from more than 1.6million people.

With the study measuring how effective participants' kidneys filtered toxins, as well as other functions, and found every test saw higher risk scores.

This meant they were more likely to suffer kidney disease than those who have never had Covid.

Experts have determined that up to four out of 10 people who catch Covid-19 still feel ill three months later (Getty Images)

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Experts have now discovered that some 35 per cent of people were likely to suffer from kidney damage or loss of function (Getty Images/Westend61)

The study claims Covid patients have a 25 per cent higher risk for a 30 per cent decline in kidney function, and a 44 per cent higher risk of 40 per cent decline in function.

And at least 220 patients who participated in the study experienced loss of 85 per cent of kidney function.

The experts explained that the severity of one’s Covid symptoms typically correlated to whether they would suffer kidney damage.

Kidney issues are the latest Long Covid symptom to be added to the list (Getty Images)

Those who were hospitalised with the illness were more likely to suffer more severe kidney damage, they said.

There has been no clear explanation found to date as to why Covid damages the kidneys.

However, previous research has linked it to inflation caused by the virus.

In a report published today, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said fatigue was the most common symptom, with 58 per cent saying they were experiencing it.

This was followed by shortness of breath (42 per cent), muscle ache (32 per cent), and difficulty concentrating (31 per cent).

While nearly one million people in the UK said they were suffering from Long Covid symptoms last month.

According to the ONS, 970,000 people say they have experienced the effects of the virus for at least four weeks - with more than 380,000 suffering for more than a year.

The figures also reveal a rise in the number of children suffering from the effects of Covid-19.

An estimated 38,000 children in the UK aged from two to 16 had self-reported long Covid in the four weeks to August 1, the ONS said.