- Long-term symptoms of COVID-19 infection 12 months after hospitalization
- What symptoms have been reported one year after having COVID-19?
New research suggests that more attention should be paid to the long-term effects of the virus on those patients who have required hospitalization for COVID-19. It turns out that the symptoms of the disease may appear in these people up to a year after being in the hospital. The research results were published in the journal "Jama".
Long-term symptoms of COVID-19 infection 12 months after hospitalization
The analysis of 246 Dutch patients admitted to the intensive care unit due to COVID-19 infection, with an average age of 61 years, showed that approx. 74% of them continued to experience physical signs of infection for 12 months after their hospital stay.
This is another reminder about the risk of the so-called "long COVID" - the occurrence of significant symptoms caused by the coronavirus long after the initial disease has passed. According to previous studies, there are over 200 symptoms associated with the condition and this demonstrates the importance of long-term monitoring of the effects of COVID-19.
The results of the research show that patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection, even one year after discharge from the hospital, feel tired, lack of energy and are unable to return to their tasks to the extent that they performed them before falling ill.
Most of the respondents reported the presence of physical symptoms, and almost 39% people claimed that a year after their illness they still felt general weakness. Mental he alth problems were reported by over 26% of respondents. participants, and over 16 percent. mentioned cognitive problems such as problems with memory and concentration.
What symptoms have been reported one year after having COVID-19?
The physical symptoms mentioned by study participants included:
- pain,
- muscle weakness,
- shortness of breath.
When it comes to mental he alth issues, patients have reported feelings of anxiety or stress.
"Symptoms after hospitalization in intensive care units for COVID-19 can be classified as physical, mental and cognitive and are associated with increased annual mortality, higher he althcare costs and lower quality of life " - scientists wrote in their article.
Long-term illness also affects and affects the family and friends of those who are illcolleagues and employers. The survey revealed that 57.8 percent. of those interviewed who had a job before contracting COVID-19 were still on sick leave or working shortened hours a year later.
While the study has limitations - it relies on people willing to report their own he alth and symptoms, not any clinical diagnosis - it highlights cause for concern about how people may continue to suffer from long-term symptoms of COVID-19 long after your stay in hospital.