A large majority of coronavirus patients are still experiencing symptoms three months after being released from hospital, Bristol researchers report.
From a sample of 110 patients discharged from Southmead Hospital, almost three quarters were suffering a poorer quality of life months after their initial diagnosis.
Many were struggling to carry out daily tasks such as washing, dressing or going back to work.
Researchers found that 81 out of 110 patients discharged from Southmead Hospital were experiencing symptoms, such as breathlessness, excessive fatigue and muscle aches.
Most of the patients did report improvements in their initial symptoms of fever, cough and loss of sense of smell.
And the majority of people had no evidence of lung scarring or reductions in lung function.
A total of 163 patients with Covid were recruited to the study, which was funded by Southmead Hospital Charity, and of those 19 died.
The remainder were invited for a three-month check-up, and 110 attended.
Most (74%) had persistent symptoms - notably breathlessness and excessive fatigue - with reduced health-related quality of life.
Dr Rebecca Smith, deputy director of research and innovation at North Bristol NHS Trust, said: "There's still so much we don't know about the long-term effects of coronavirus, but this study has given us vital new insight into what challenges patients may face in their recovery and will help us prepare for those needs.
"We're pleased that researchers at Southmead Hospital are leading the way and hope our findings can help patients and their GPs understand the course of post-Covid illness and the role of routine tests."
The findings are part of the preliminary results of the North Bristol NHS Trust's Discover project, which is studying the longer-term effects of coronavirus, so-called Long Covid.
Experts from the University of Bristol will now collaborate to look at the participant blood tests, rehabilitation therapies and psychological support.
Dr David Arnold, who is leading the Discover project, said: "This research helps to describe what many coronavirus patients have been telling us: they are still breathless, tired, and not sleeping well months after admission.
"Reassuringly, however, abnormalities on X-rays and breathing tests are rare in this group. Further work in the Discover project will help us to understand why this is, and how we can help coronavirus sufferers."
Early this month, MPs from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Covid-19 heard from previously fit people whose lives have been turned upside down by a host of symptoms.
Claire Hastie, who is a member of a Long Covid Support Group on Facebook, described how she used to cycle 13 miles to work but can no longer walk 13 metres and is now largely confined to a wheelchair with her children providing much of her care.
Dr Jake Suett, a staff grade doctor in anaesthetics and intensive care medicine, said: "I was doing 12-hour shifts in ICU.
"And now a flight of stairs or the food shop is about what I can manage before I have to stop... if I'm on my feet then shortness of breath comes back, chest pain comes back."
