Key genes linked to long COVID have been identified, with Australian scientists a step closer to revealing why some people experience ongoing symptoms months and even years after infection.
The breakthrough study could lead to targeted testing and treatment of patients identified as being more prone to the condition.
It may also save researchers worldwide time and money, having narrowed down genetic pathways to follow for further studies into who is prone to long COVID and those genetically protected from it.
An estimated 400 million people globally have been affected by long COVID since 2020. Symptoms include prolonged fatigue, breathlessness, cardiovascular complications and cognitive impairment.
The condition has proved stubbornly difficult to diagnose and treat, with many people experiencing symptoms for weeks, months, and years after contracting the virus.
A University of South Australia study has collated genetic and molecular data from more than 100 international studies, identifying 32 causal genes that increase the likelihood of a person developing long COVID.
Large data sets and advanced computational methods including artificial intelligence could quickly identify causes, risk factors and potential treatments, said PhD candidate and lead study author Sindy Pinero.
"We know the symptoms, but we don't know what are the causes of those symptoms," she told AAP on Tuesday.
Researchers worldwide can use the study as a filter to fast-track targeted investigations to further identify the genetic causes of long COVID.
"These findings mark a major step towards a more precise way of diagnosing and treating the condition," Ms Pinero said.
"Long COVID is incredibly complex. It affects multiple organs, shows highly variable symptoms, and has no single final diagnostic marker."
Among the study's key discoveries is a genetic variant in a gene associated with immune regulation and lung function that appears to increase people's susceptibility to long COVID.
The study's co-author, Associate Professor Thuc Le, said computational science was essential to solving the long COVID puzzle.
"Traditional biomedical research can't keep pace with the complexity of this condition," he said.
"By applying artificial intelligence to global data sets, we can identify causal relationships that are invisible in small clinical trials."
