Need to know the long-term effects of covid-19

2020/08/19 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna
• Mikrobiologia
• Medikuntza
• COVID-19

The British Medical Association confirms that COVID-19 leaves long-term effects. In fact, in a survey conducted by this association, one in three physicians notes that their patients present long-lasting symptoms, such as chronic fatigue, weakness, difficulties in maintaining care, and anosmia (desolfate).

The president of the association, in an article published in the specialized journal British Medical Journal (BMJ), warns that these conclusions must be taken into account and prepared to properly treat patients. Their care adds to the flu season and colds.

Recent studies show that the long-term effects of covid-19 are varied and potentially serious. For example, in a cardiac study conducted in Germany in newly surpassed patients, 78% had cardiac alterations and 60% myocarditis (inflammation). Most patients were young and had no previous heart problems, and these consequences had nothing to do with the severity and overall evolution of the disease.

In fact, in a large study published in the journal Nature Medicine, they explained that the main receptor of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, ACE2, is expressed not only in the lungs, but in many other tissues, which causes the virus to affect many organs: kidneys, intestines, eyes, neurons, liver, skin, etc. Therefore, it is a complex, diverse and persistent pathology.

When symptoms are prolonged

Thus, more and more experts say that COVID-19 does not only have two variants, that is, light, even asymptomatic, which is easily overcome at home and severe, which may require treatment in an ICU. Moreover, epidemiologist Nisreen Alwan asks in the BMJ magazine: What exactly is COVID-19 lightweight?

According to Alwan, the pandemic has been measured in both dead and hospitalized, but like him, many of those infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus have passed the disease at home and have not yet overcome it. But there is no concrete data from all of them.

Lack of data makes it difficult to take appropriate measures to address the pandemic. According to him, people are still told that the infection affects the elderly and those who have chronic diseases, and that healthy people have no symptoms or almost none. This is wrong and exemplifies a study conducted in the Netherlands. There were 1,600 patients, 91% not admitted and 85% with good health. After 4 months of infection, 88% suffered fatigue, 75% respiratory distress, 45% chest pressure, 40% headache, 36% muscle aches and 32% palpitations. Almost half were unable to play sports.

Alwan considers it essential to know the possible evolutions of the disease and determine when the patient is cured: in the diagnostic test it is not enough to deny, it must be taken into account if he is able to make the life he was doing before.

The Association of General and Family Physicians of Spain (SEMG) has also highlighted the loss of quality of life as one of the long-term consequences and has announced a very irregular evolution.