The Long-Term Effects of COVID-19: New Findings
New research on long COVID, the lingering health effects experienced by many who have recovered from COVID-19, reveals a complex picture of both good news and bad news. A recent study conducted by Washington University School of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care system sheds light on the lasting impacts of the virus on individuals’ health.
The bad news is that individuals who were hospitalized within the first 30 days after contracting COVID-19 face a 29% higher risk of death in the third year compared to those who have not had the virus. However, this risk diminishes significantly for individuals who were not hospitalized for the virus, with the increased risk of death almost disappearing one year post-infection.
Published in Nature Medicine on May 30, the study tracked the health effects of the original strain of COVID-19 in individuals three years after infection. The research highlights that even individuals with mild cases of COVID-19 are still experiencing new health problems related to the infection three years later.
Lead author Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University, suggests that the long-term effects of the virus may be due to viral persistence, chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction, or a combination of these factors. The study challenges the notion that COVID-19 is a short-term illness, emphasizing the potential for health problems to manifest years after the initial infection.
According to federal data, up to 10% of individuals infected with the virus may experience long COVID, highlighting the need for continued research in this area.
The Study
Dr. Al-Aly and his team analyzed millions of de-identified medical records from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including over 114,000 veterans with mild COVID-19, more than 20,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and 5.2 million veterans with no COVID-19 diagnosis. The study followed these individuals for at least three years, assessing the risk of death and 80 adverse health conditions post-infection.
In the third year after infection, hospitalized COVID-19 patients experienced a 34% increased health risk compared to individuals without COVID-19. Non-hospitalized patients also saw an increased risk in long COVID-related health problems, primarily affecting the gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and neurological systems.
Moreover, the analysis revealed that COVID-19 had contributed to 10 lost healthy life-years per 1,000 persons among non-hospitalized individuals three years post-infection, while hospitalized patients experienced 90 lost years of healthy life per 1,000 persons. These statistics highlight the significant impact of COVID-19 on long-term health outcomes.
Implications and Future Research
Dr. Al-Aly emphasizes the importance of understanding the long-term effects of COVID-19 to inform care for individuals experiencing long COVID. He warns that even three years post-infection, the virus can still be causing disease or illness in various organs, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by the virus.
As researchers continue to gather data and study the impact of subsequent variants of the virus, such as omicron and delta, the trajectory of long COVID may evolve. The development of vaccines and antivirals has also changed the landscape of COVID-19 treatment and management, which may influence long-term health outcomes.
It is clear that COVID-19 is a serious threat to the long-term health and well-being of individuals and should not be taken lightly. The findings from this study provide valuable insights into the lasting effects of the virus and underscore the need for continued research and vigilance in addressing the health implications of COVID-19.
