A majority of Covid-19 patients continue to experience at least one symptom of the disease six months after being discharged from the hospital, according to patient data from around the world. Covid-19 not only attacks the human body during the acute infection but also leaves long-term effects, such as lung damage, neurological deficits, muscle weakness, heart inflammation, and in rare cases, Type 1 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. Scientists from Jin Yin-tan Hospital in Wuhan have published the longest and most detailed study on the long-term effects of Covid-19 in The Lancet. They surveyed 1,733 patients about their health status six months after being discharged from the hospital.
The study found that a majority (63%) of patients reported chronic fatigue and muscle weakness, while other common symptoms included sleep disorders (26%) and anxiety or depression (23%). Some patients (13%) also developed kidney problems, even though no kidney dysfunction was diagnosed during their hospital treatment. These long-term effects were observed in patients with both severe and mild Covid-19 cases. The study also found that the likelihood of certain long-term effects increases in relation to the severity of the acute Covid-19 infection.
More than half (56%) of patients who required mechanical ventilation in the hospital reported reduced lung function. Patients who only received additional oxygen during their acute phase but were still able to breathe on their own had a lower percentage (29%) of reduced lung function. Patients who were not mechanically ventilated or given additional oxygen had an even lower percentage (22%) of reduced lung function. Similarly, muscle weakness was also linked to the severity of the acute illness. Almost a third (29%) of ventilated patients could not complete a normal walking test six months after Covid-19, while fewer patients (22%) with a less severe illness completed the test with below-average performance.
The study highlights the need for careful follow-up and rehabilitation after Covid-19 hospitalization. Further studies with different populations are also necessary to better understand the long-term effects of Covid-19.
