COVID-19 Can Kill Months After Infection
More than a year into the pandemic, we’re learning more about the Coronavirus every day. By now, most Americans know that washing your hands and social distancing are effective preventive measures. We also know that wearing a mask can go a long way in preventing the spread. In the event of an infection, we know that a person is likely to experience a cough, fever, chills, and/or shortness of breath. However, there are other aspects of COVID-19 that we don’t hear about as much. For example, COVID research has revealed that COVID-19 can be fatal months after an infection.
In a COVID-19 study published in peer-reviewed journal Nature, scientists study a subset of patients with lasting symptoms. Known as long-haul COVID-19 patients, they continue to face health threats for up to six months following a live COVID-19 infection. One of those threats includes an increased likelihood of death. The study followed 87,000 patients, in addition to nearly 5 million control patients through a federal database from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The findings revealed that those who had the disease, even with mild symptoms, displayed a 59% higher chance of dying when studied against noninfected people.
There were other lasting complications in the findings, too. Long-haul COVID patients had a significantly greater chance of getting sick – even beyond the respiratory system. High rates of serious medical concerns including stroke and other nervous system ailments, a prevalence of mental health conditions, the onset of diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease occurred throughout the study. In many cases, patients had clusters of these illnesses. Additionally, there are specific long-haul neurologic symptoms of COVID-19 that are distinct from those found in acute disease – including conditions such as brain fog and muscular ache. The chances of these and other long-term health conditions increased with the severity of the COVID-19 infection, according to the study.
In a different study conducted by the CDC, findings showed that of the COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms that were monitored, almost two-thirds returned to their doctor with new symptoms within six months. In this report, which included 3,100 cases, none of the long haulers in question had been hospitalized for their initial infections. They also found that the patients were more likely to be African American, women and/or people over the age of 50, showing that the risks of COVID can persist or escalate months after the active infection.
As doctors study the long-term effects of COVID-19, there are multiple branches of medicine being consulted, including experts in pulmonology, cardiology, and mental health. As more studies are published, the authors urge doctors to be aware that patients in the COVID-19 aftermath may display new symptoms related to their past diagnosis.
With board-certified physicians and state-of-the-art equipment, our team here at Avail Hospital is well-prepared to handle lasting and ongoing complications due to a previous COVID-19 infection or otherwise. Even if it’s the middle of the night, we’re ready to help you in the event of a medical emergency or serious health concern – no appointment necessary.