In addition to heart-lung symptoms, according to Gut, patients can experience deep fatigue and neurocognitive changes – commonly referred to as “brain fog”. And these problems can even affect people who have had a milder COVID and never had to be hospitalized, Gut said.
So while SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus, the resulting disease can have far-reaching effects on the body.
“COVID is a whole-body disease,” said Iwashyna, “and so is long-term COVID.”
The results, recently published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, are based on the first patients in a larger, ongoing, government-funded study. It will follow up to 1,500 patients hospitalized in major hospitals across the United States for COVID.
Iwashyna’s team found that of 253 patients surveyed one month after discharge, about 55% said they had at least one new or worsening heart / lung symptom – most commonly a chronic cough.
Meanwhile, 53% said they had physical limitations that weren’t there before, including problems with daily chores like shopping, carrying groceries, or even walking around the house.
In addition to the physical strain, there was also a financial burden: around 20% of patients said they lost their jobs or had to change jobs, while 38% said a loved one had taken time off to look after them.
Since long COVID is complex and diverse, Gut said, there is no “one-size-fits-all” method of treating the symptoms.
One way to help hospital patients is through home nursing after discharge.
But, Iwashyna said, few patients in this study actually received these services – and there was evidence that may have contributed to their disabilities. Of the patients who reported new physical limitations, 77% had received no home health care.
“I wonder, are we still underestimating how bad the long-term effects can be?” said Iwashyna.
Both he and Gut emphasized a critical point: The best way to avert long-term COVID is to avoid COVID in the first place.
“Get vaccinated,” advised Iwashyna.
The vaccines are “not perfect,” he said, and breakthrough infections can sometimes occur. But they still reduce the risk of getting sick and are very effective at keeping people out of the hospital.
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