A recent study reveals that individuals who have mild cases of COVID-19 are still at a higher risk of developing various health issues for up to two years. These issues include heart problems, blood clots, diabetes, neurological complications, and more.
While previous studies have focused on the symptoms associated with “long COVID,” this analysis, published in the journal Nature Medicine, is the first to track the risks of these health problems beyond a few months or a year after infection.
The research shows that individuals who were hospitalized with severe COVID-19 infections are at the highest risk of experiencing long-term health issues and even death throughout the two-year period covered by the study.
The analysis reveals that about two-thirds of the conditions studied, such as blood clotting issues, musculoskeletal problems, cardiovascular issues, kidney disorders, and gastrointestinal problems, continue to pose significant risks.
Even those who were infected but not hospitalized remain susceptible to some long-term health problems.
Although the risk of death decreases significantly after six months, this group still faces a higher likelihood of developing gastrointestinal issues, clotting problems, diabetes, fatigue, and musculoskeletal problems.
The study, which examined data from the electronic health records of nearly 140,000 veterans with COVID-19 and almost 6 million uninfected individuals, was funded by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
The authors acknowledge that the study’s findings may not be applicable to the non-veteran population due to the predominantly older and male demographic of the VA population.
It is important to note that this study only included patients infected in 2020, before the availability of widespread vaccinations, antiviral treatments like Paxlovid, and the development of immunity against different variants.
Today’s landscape is different, and current evidence suggests that vaccines and early treatment can help reduce the risk of long COVID.
Nevertheless, the findings emphasize the significant burden of health issues associated with long COVID and highlight the need for proper care for individuals experiencing long-term health effects from SARS-CoV-2, as stated by the study’s researchers.
The authors further note that the cumulative health loss resulting from these post-infection health problems may not only affect patients’ quality of life but also potentially lead to a decline in life expectancy, impact labor participation, economic productivity, and overall societal well-being.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
