Summary:
A study suggests that individuals hospitalized with flu face a heightened risk of long-term health issues, akin to long Covid. Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly’s research indicates that both flu and Covid infections entail significant risks of death, disability, and ongoing health problems in the months following infection.
Main Points:
- Long-Term Risks: Individuals hospitalized with flu are susceptible to prolonged health issues similar to long Covid, with symptoms focused more on lung-related complications.
- Study Findings: Analysis of medical records of 81,280 Covid patients and 10,985 flu patients revealed heightened risks of death, readmission, and various health problems for both groups over 18 months.
- Post-Infection Effects: More than half of deaths and disabilities occurred beyond the initial 30 days post-infection, with fatigue, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and neurological issues prevalent.
- Awareness: The study highlights the misconception of viral infections as acute illnesses, emphasizing the substantial toll of post-acute health outcomes.
- Future Investigations: The research aims to determine the extent of long-term health issues among hospitalized flu patients and identify high-risk groups.
- Preventive Measures: Vaccination and antiviral drugs are crucial in reducing hospitalization risks for flu and Covid infections.
Conclusion:
The study underscores the importance of recognizing the enduring health impacts of flu and Covid infections beyond acute illness phases. Addressing these challenges necessitates heightened awareness, preventive measures, and further research to mitigate long-term health risks associated with viral infections.
“Many people think they’re over Covid-19 or the flu after being discharged from the hospital. That may be true for some people. But our research shows that both viruses can cause long-haul illness. Conceptualising these diseases as acute illnesses is really just looking at the tip of the iceberg, and eclipses the much higher toll of adverse health outcomes that are happening in the post-acute phase.”
Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, Clinical Epidemiologist at Washington University in St Louis.
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