News articles these days are like episodes of Game of Thrones; they are all depressing, but the next one, somehow, always seems more upsetting than the previous one.
Ever since COVID-19 made an appearance in the reality show we call life, good news has been hard to come by.
Usually, the bad news has to do with COVID-19 restrictions, such as our inability to travel for leisure right now.
But now, even if you’ve already survived the coronavirus, it seems you may still have some medical troubles to worry about.
Study Finds That One-Third of COVID-19 Survivors are Diagnosed With Neurological & Psychiatric Issues Within 6 Mths
Recovered from COVID-19 and think you’re out of the woods? Well, this study has completely blown that notion out of the water.
According to the study, one in three COVID-19 survivors suffer from a neurological or psychiatric diagnosis within six months of their recovery.
The study, which was published in the Lancet Psychiatry journal, is the largest study so far published on the psychological effects that COVID-19 has on survivors.
Researchers in the study examined the health records of more than 230,000 patients who had recovered from a coronavirus infection.
They discovered that 34% were diagnosed with a neurological or psychiatric condition within six months.
These conditions include:
- Anxiety (17%)
- Mood disorders (14%)
- Brain haemorrhage (0.6%)
- Stroke (2.1%)
- Dementia (0.7%)
Researchers found that of those diagnosed with a mental health issue like anxiety after their recovery, 13% said it was their first diagnosis.
Carries Greater Risk of Neurological or Psychiatric Diagnosis Than Flu
Researchers also examined over 100,000 patients diagnosed with influenza and more than 236,000 diagnosed with other respiratory tract infections.
They concluded that there was a 44% greater risk of neurological and mental health diagnoses after COVID-19 than after flu, and a 16% higher risk than with respiratory tract infections.
Nearly Half of COVID-19 Patients With Severe Infections Developed Neurological or Psychiatric Conditions
More worryingly, those who suffered severe COVID-19 infections were at great risk of developing long-term conditions.
According to the study, 46% of COVID-19 patients who needed intensive care were diagnosed with neurological or psychiatric conditions within six months of recovery.
2.7% of patients who needed intensive care suffered a subsequent brain haemorrhage, and nearly 7% suffered a stroke.
But the bad news doesn’t end there for survivors.
Many of these disorders tend to be chronic, meaning survivors could be living with their newly-diagnosed illnesses for years, or even the rest of their lives.
Apart from that, the uncertainties of the pandemic are also taking a toll on our mental health.
In other words, we need to do everything we can do end this pandemic as soon as possible.
Continue to practise social distancing, see a doctor if you’re unwell, and get that vaccination when you’re offered it.
Featured Image: hairul_nizam/ Shutterstock.com
