Anxiety, despair, drug addiction, and cognitive impairment are all heightened risks for people who have recovered from COVID-19, according to thorough research published Thursday that analyzed millions of health data over a year.
The research employed the V.A.’s comprehensive electronic health record system.
They tracked over 150,000 COVID-19 patients from March 2020 to January 2021 for a year.
A “contemporary cohort” of almost 5 million additional patients who did not have COVID-19 but suffered pandemic circumstances including lockdowns, school closures, unemployment, and loss of friends or family was compared to the group.
A pre-pandemic “historical cohort” of almost 5 million patients was also studied.
In general, Al-Aly noted, those with COVID-19 had a greater risk of mental health issues. Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly is chief of the V.A. St. Louis Health Care System research and development.
Most were not hospitalized but recovered from minor infections at home.
The Stats
The research indicated a 35% higher risk of anxiety disorders, a 39% increased risk of depressive disorders, and a 38% increased risk of stress-related disease.
The likelihood of opioid usage rose 76%, while the chance of cognitive deterioration rose 80%.
According to Al-Aly, the number of individuals surveyed included enough women and people of different ages to achieve clear findings.
Al-Aly cited the rise in opioid prescriptions and addiction among persons with COVID-19 as a significant worry.
After years of focusing on how opioids were given, the U.S. saw a decline in overdose fatalities just before the epidemic.
Al-Aly stated that we are witnessing a trend reversal that needs to be addressed to avoid becoming a more severe issue or turning into a drug epidemic.
He says that the rise in despair and suicidal thoughts should spur efforts to decrease stigma and link individuals to treatment.
Given the size of COVID in the U.S., these figures represent millions of individuals.
The finding contributes to the growing body of research on “long COVID.”
Throughout the COVID-19 epidemic, many survivors continued to have health issues, even moderate illnesses.
The WHO called it a “post COVID-19 condition” in October.
It develops three months after a COVID-19 infection, lasts at least two months, and is not easily diagnosed.
Symptoms include exhaustion, shortness of breath, and cognitive impairment, as well as headaches, joint pain, gastrointestinal disorders, and skin rashes.
The incidence of COVID re-infection varies from 5% to almost 60%.
This research indicated that COVID-19 survivors had a 60% greater risk of mortality in the six months after their infection compared to non-infected V.A. patients.
This is why several hospital and physician systems, including Washington University School of Medicine, have created long COVID clinics.
The Care and Recovery After COVID-19 Clinic have two facilities in Creve Coeur.
The Incidence of Long Covid in Kids
In children, long COVID is unusual, and symptoms typically fade in less than a month.
According to Dr. Rachel Oscheln of St. Louis Children’s Hospital, long COVID symptoms are comparable to chronic fatigue syndrome, a disorder that has long occurred following infections.
Itchy skin and joint discomfort are examples of autoimmune responses.
He says that physicians and health institutions should be more aware of the complexities of long COVID.
