A new study published in Nature Medicine has found that the physical fallout from long COVID may last two years or longer and can take a toll on quality of life even for those whose initial cases didn’t require hospital care.
The study, conducted by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care system, analyzed data from over 6 million anonymous medical records. The researchers found that people who had contracted COVID-19 but didn’t require hospitalization were still at elevated risk two years later for several conditions, including diabetes, lung problems, fatigue, blood clots, and disorders affecting the gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal systems. Those whose initial cases required hospitalization within the first 30 days faced even more dire outcomes, with elevated risk for both hospitalization and death, along with significant risk across all organ systems.
The study’s lead author, Ziyad Al-Aly, said that the findings are a “sobering reminder” that COVID-19 can have long-lasting effects on people’s health, even if they don’t experience severe symptoms initially.
“We need to have a coherent national strategy to accelerate clinical trials and get a treatment that works as soon as possible,” Al-Aly said. “That really should be a national priority.”
The study’s findings come at a time when the US government is facing criticism for its slow response to the long COVID crisis. A recent report by the health news site STAT revealed that the National Institutes of Health has failed to test meaningful treatments for long COVID after two and a half years and a $1.15 billion Congressional grant.
The lack of progress on long COVID treatments is a major concern for patients and advocates. Many long COVID sufferers are unable to work or go to school, and some have even become bedridden. The condition can also have a significant impact on mental health, leading to anxiety and depression.
The researchers who conducted the new study are calling for a more coordinated effort to research and develop treatments for long COVID. They also believe that more needs to be done to raise awareness of the condition and its impact on patients’ lives.
“We need to do more to help people with long COVID,” said Al-Aly. “This is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people around the world.”
The new study is a major step forward in our understanding of long COVID. However, more research is needed to develop effective treatments and improve care for patients. In the meantime, it is important for people to be aware of the potential long-term effects of COVID-19 and to get vaccinated and boosted to protect themselves from infection.