COVID-19 mostly affects the respiratory tract in its acute phase. Researchers have discovered, however, that the sickness can impact a person’s many organs.
Furthermore, researchers and doctors are becoming more aware of extended COVID. In those who have recovered from the acute phase of a SARS-CoV-2 infection, long COVID appears as chronic symptoms.
The goal of this study was to learn more about the chances of older persons getting health problems as a result of a SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is referred to as sequelae by experts.
The study, published in the BMJ, lays the framework for future research into COVID-19’s long-term consequences on people’s health.
COVID-19 raised the chance of complications.
The researchers discovered that 32% of those who had a SARS-CoV-2 infection in 2020 sought medical help for a new or persistent disease. This was an 11% increase over the 2020 comparison group.
Respiratory failure, fatigue, high blood pressure, memory issues, kidney injury, mental health-related diagnoses, hypercoagulability (when blood clots more easily), and cardiac rhythm disorders were the new or persistent conditions that showed the greatest risk when compared to the 2020 comparison group. The 2019 comparison group yielded comparable results, according to the researchers.
Only respiratory failure, dementia, and post-viral tiredness risk increased when the COVID-19 group was compared to the lower respiratory tract infection group.
“Many of these patients were likely pretty unwell,” Dr. Cohen said. “Our lower respiratory infection group included exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and likely included some undiscovered bacterial pneumonia.”
“As a result, the disparities in outcomes between this group and the SARS-CoV-2 group were far less pronounced.” The COVID-19 group had a higher incidence of respiratory failure, dementia, and post-viral tiredness than the lower respiratory tract infection group, but the other sequelae were not more common in the COVID-19 group.”
The findings, according to Dr. Irene M. Estores, director of the University of Florida Health Integrative Medicine Program, “support earlier studies in this field.” The study did not include Dr. Estores.
The data builds nicely on Veterans Affairs data on post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, with the inclusion of a cohort of patients who were admitted to a hospital compared to those who were not, and using a comparison group of patients with other viral lower respiratory tract infection.”
“Notwithstanding the limitations acknowledged by the authors, validation of our observations as clinicians allows us to continue to advocate for measures to protect this population,” said Dr. Estores.
“The bottom line is that COVID-19 is causing new [diseases] or hastening the progression of existing illnesses, implying that we as a healthcare system must be prepared.” As a healthcare system, we weren’t prepared to deal with COVID-19, so now we must prepare to deal with the implications of COVID-19.”
“[This could include] public health infrastructure, disability, rehabilitation, and considering what policies might be put in place to support people with this illness, or caregivers who are now needing to take time off work or possibly quit to care for people with long-term disabilities,” Dr. Arbaje suggested.