New research on the long-term effects of Covid-19 reveals a mixed picture – offering both concerning and reassuring insights into the persistent health impacts of the virus years down the line.
The concerning news is that Covid-19 patients who were hospitalized within the first 30 days of infection face a 29% higher risk of death in the third year compared to those who never had the virus, according to the study from Washington University and the VA St. Louis Health Care system.
Even people with mild Covid-19 cases were found to be experiencing new health problems related to the infection three years later, the research published in Nature Medicine showed.
“Covid-19 continues to teach us that a brief, seemingly innocuous or benign encounter with the virus can still lead to health problems years later,” said senior author Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist.
However, the study also brought some reassuring findings. The increased mortality risk diminishes significantly one year after infection among people who were not hospitalized – accounting for most COVID-19 cases.
In the third year post-infection, non-hospitalized patients had only a 5% increased risk of suffering long Covid effects, primarily impacting the gastrointestinal, pulmonary and neurological systems. This translates to 41 more health issues per 1,000 people – a small but noteworthy burden.
For hospitalized Covid-19 patients, the elevated health risk across all organ systems dropped from 182% one year after infection to 34% in the third year, showing an improving trajectory over time.
The researchers measured the healthy life-years lost due to Covid-19. Among non-hospitalized cases, there were 10 lost years per 1,000 people three years post-infection. For hospitalized patients, a staggering 90 years of healthy life were lost per 1,000 people over the same period.
“That a mild infection can lead to new health problems three years down the road is sobering,” Al-Aly said, noting the burden is “astronomically higher” for severe cases.
While acknowledging limitations like not accounting for subsequent variants, Al-Aly emphasized the virus’s lingering effects. “Even three years out, you might have
forgotten about Covid-19, but Covid hasn’t forgotten about you,” he warned.
The study highlights the need for continued monitoring and support for long Covid patients, even years after their initial infection, to address the persistent and wide-ranging health impacts of the virus.
Rohit Malhotra is a medical expert and health journalist who offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being. His articles aim to help readers lead healthier lives.
