The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been found to have a number of long-term impacts, albeit it is yet unclear exactly what these lingering symptoms mean. These unidentified elements nevertheless lead to social unrest and a general lack of understanding.
A study was carried out at five hospitals in Osaka by a research team under the direction of Dr. Waki Imoto from the Graduate School of Medicine at Osaka Metropolitan University. Surveys were conducted with 285 patients who had been hospitalized or diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020 to ascertain the long-term effects.
“Beginning in 2021, we began investigating COVID-19’s aftereffects using a specialist outpatient clinic that attends to those who experience them. We anticipate that this study will contribute to a better understanding of COVID-19’s effects “Dr. Imoto added.
More than half of the survey participants reported having persistent side effects, even a year after recovering from their initial COVID-19 infection, according to the poll results. Regardless of the severity of the initial infection, the researchers found that COVID-19 aftereffects, such as weariness, changes in taste and smell, hair loss, and sleep disturbances, may last for a long time after recovery.
Even young people, people who are vaccinated, and people who have been previously infected—who are less likely to become severely ill—can still experience these residual aftereffects, making it necessary to continue treating all COVID-19 seriously.
The research results were published online in Scientific Reports on Tuesday, December 27, 2022.
