Fatigue and breathlessness

 Several studies have indicated that COVID can lead to long lasting fatigue. According to a review published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 46% of patients report fatigue weeks and months after recovery. The same review highlighted that in the majority of COVID-19 cohort studies, persistent fatigue was reported by 13% to 33% of people 16–20 weeks post-symptom onset.

The recent study published in the Journal of Infection found that apart from fatigue, breathlessness was also a common long lasting symptom in about 20% of the participants, prevalent 9 months after recovery. Studies in the past have also linked long term breathlessness with heart damage.

Additionally, the study noted that while 18% of patients did not return to optimal pre-Covid physical health, 19% reported psychological distress during the ninth month.

The researchers found that hospitalised patients and symptom persistence at day 28 and month nine were independent predictors of suboptimal physical health, whereas female gender and persistence of symptoms at day 28 and month nine were predictors for psychological distress.

Although COVID cases in most parts of the world has declined, taking precaution against the virus still remains crucial. Amid new emerging variants, there is no telling what the SARs-CoV-2 infection has in store for us. Wearing your masks, maintaining social distance and following proper hand hygiene is key. Those who are yet to receive their vaccination or are eligible for booster shots must receive it immediately.

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