COVID-19: The Long-Term Consequences

A recent study published in Nature Medicine has shed light on the long-term effects of COVID-19, revealing that patients hospitalized within 30 days of infection face a 29% higher risk of death in the third year compared to those who have not had the virus. The study, conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care system, tracked the health effects of COVID-19 in people three years after being infected with the original strain of the virus in 2020.

Long-term effects of COVID-19

The study’s findings present a mixed bag of good and bad news. On the one hand, the increased risk of death diminishes significantly one year after a SARS-CoV-2 infection among people who were not hospitalized for the virus. This demographic accounts for most people who have had COVID-19. However, the bad news is that even people with mild COVID-19 were still experiencing new health problems related to the infection three years later.

According to the study’s senior author, Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, the virus’s effects linger for so long due to viral persistence, chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction, or a combination of these factors. The study’s findings challenge the notion that infections are mostly short-term illnesses with health effects that manifest around the time of infection.

Long COVID: A Growing Concern

The study’s results are a sobering reminder that COVID-19 is a serious threat to long-term health and well-being. Up to 10% of people infected with the virus experience long COVID, according to federal data. The study’s findings highlight the need for continued research into the long-term effects of COVID-19 and the importance of addressing the knowledge gap in this area.

COVID-19 Research: A Critical Need

The study’s analysis also measured and compared the number of healthy life-years lost due to COVID-19. The results showed that among nonhospitalized patients, COVID-19 had contributed to 10 lost years of healthy life per 1,000 persons three years after infection. By comparison, three years post-infection, those hospitalized for COVID-19 had experienced 90 lost years of healthy life per 1,000 persons.

Healthy Life Years Lost Due to COVID-19

The study’s findings serve as a stark reminder that COVID-19 is not just a short-term illness, but a serious threat to long-term health and well-being. As Al-Aly notes, “Even three years out, you might have forgotten about COVID-19, but COVID hasn’t forgotten about you.” The study’s results underscore the need for continued vigilance and research into the long-term effects of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Awareness: A Critical Need