SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus causing COVID-19 has now infected 103,425,328 people and killed 2,235,179 all over the world – yet, some people still downplay how dangerous and deadly the pandemic really is.
Perhaps they might change their minds if they know that four months after their release from the hospital, more than half of adult COVID-19 patients in northern Italy still had impaired lung function or mobility issues, and about one-fifth had symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – this according to a study recently published in JAMA Network Open.
The findings are not new and they add to growing evidence of the so-called COVID-19 “long-haulers,” or patients with function-impairing symptoms persisting for months after their initial recovery.
Researchers from two universities in Novara, Italy, assessed the patients, who had been hospitalized from March to June 2020. Of the 219 patients who completed both lung function tests and carbon monoxide (CO) measurements, 113 (51.6%) had a diffusing lung capacity for CO of less than 80% of the expected level, indicating compromised lung function, and 34 patients (15.5%) had a more severe impairment, with a value less than 60% of normal. Fifty-three of the 238 patients (22.3%) showed limited mobility on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) (score, <11), while 75 of 185 (40.5%) of those with normal SPPB scores who took a 2-minute walk test showed subpar exercise capacity, meaning that 128 total patients (53.8%) were functionally impaired. Forty-one patients (17.2%) reported symptoms of PTSD.
Fever, cough, and shortness of breath were common symptoms in the hospital, but most ebbed over the following months. But 13 patients (5.5%) said they were still short of breath 4 months later, 12 patients (5.0%) reported lingering loss of taste, and 11 (4.6%) still hadn’t recovered their sense of smell by that time. Fourteen patients (5.9%) said they had residual joint pain, and 14 said their muscles still ached.
In another study posted on the preprint server medRxiv, analysis of an international survey of more than 3,700 respondents with COVID-19 found that over two-thirds were still experiencing numerous symptoms at 6 months, with significant impacts on patients’ lives and livelihoods. Respondents with symptoms for more than 6 months said they are experiencing an average of nearly 14 symptoms across multiple organ systems.
One of the most confounding symptoms experienced by COVID long-haulers is brain fog, which is marked, in varying degrees, by problems with memory, attention, and multitasking.
Just how COVID affects the brain remains unclear, but physicians and scientists are seeing more and more evidence that wide-ranging neurological problems persist long after the initial infection is over. They suspect the long-term impacts also could include an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. COVID may not necessarily be causing the problem but may worsen neurological issues. This is an active area of research and could take years to fully understand what COVID does to the brain. Are you willing to take the risk?
The next time someone tells you “COVID is not dangerous,” please do your part and help stop misinformation. Yes, many people infected with SARS-CoV-2 feel better in a week and most will make a full recovery within 12 weeks. However, for some, symptoms can last longer and we do not know when these symptoms will completely disappear.*
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Dr. Melvin Sanicas (@Vaccinologist) is a physician-scientist specializing in vaccines, infectious diseases, and global health.