Researchers said that about 31% of patients now have a worse health-related quality of life than before they got COVID-19.
It is not yet clear why COVID-19 causes these lasting effects.
Many viruses have the ability to create “post-viral syndrome”, which experts describe as health problems that persist long after infection clears the body. These are the result of inflammation or other damage that occurs when the immune system is fighting an infection.
However, Gut said there is evidence that at least some of the COVID-19 long-distance symptoms can be directly attributed to the coronavirus itself.
“We think it may have an effect on the brain structure, as it has a direct effect on the nerves of our nose. We know for sure that there are changes in our lungs that occur from it,” said gout, COVID-19. “As we are just beginning to categorize the syndrome, it has far-reaching implications that we are now beginning to understand.
The findings were published online on February 19. JAMA Network Open.
More information
Cleveland Clinic has more information about coronavirus long carriers.
REFERENCES: Jennifer Logue, BS, research scientist, department of allergy and infectious diseases, department of medicine, University of Washington, Seattle; Kristin Englund, infectious diseases specialist MD, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio; David Hirschwerk, MD, infectious disease physician, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY; Thomas Gut, DO, vice president, medicine and director, outpatient services, Staten Island University Hospital, New York City; Ravindra Ganesh, MBBS, MD, internal medicine specialist, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.; JAMA Network Open, Feb. 19, 2021, online
