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One in five Covid-19 survivors can develop long-Covid symptoms, or long-term symptoms, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control, although vaccinations can reduce the risk of symptoms by 15%, another study of more than 13 million veterans led found by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
A positive test result for Covid-19 is shown.
Important facts
Vaccines reduced the risk of death in Covid patients by 34% and the risk of some of the most debilitating long Covid symptoms – lung and blood clotting disorders – by 49% and 56%, respectively, according to the Washington University study, published in naturopathy On Wednesday.
But vaccinated, immunocompromised people were still 17% more likely than healthy, vaccinated people to develop long-term Covid symptoms than healthy, vaccinated people, according to the study, which included data from more than 113,000 unvaccinated Covid patients and 33,000 vaccinated patients who developed breakthrough infections from January 1st to 20th November 1, 2021.
The results suggest that vaccinations “remain vital in the fight against COVID-19” but appear to offer only “modest protection” against long-lasting Covid, according to Ziyad Al-Aly, study author and clinical epidemiologist at Washington University School of Medicine said in a statement.
The Washington University study comes after the CDC released new research on Tuesday showing Covid survivors are twice as likely to develop respiratory problems or pulmonary embolism than those who didn’t have Covid.
The CDC study, which analyzed electronic health records of more than 60 million adults nationwide from March 2020 to November 2021, found up to one in four adults ages 65 and older had long-standing Covid symptoms and were more at risk was more likely than those under the age of 65 to develop kidney failure, neurological disorders and most mental illnesses.
Surprising fact
Researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine also found that vaccinated patients who were hospitalized with breakthrough Covid infections were more than twice as likely to die as patients who contracted the flu were hospitalized. They were also 27% more likely to develop long-lasting symptoms within 30 days of being diagnosed with Covid. .
key background
Long covid has been used to describe a variety of symptoms that people report months or even years after an initial coronavirus infection. The new studies add to a growing body of evidence that a record number of adults can experience lasting effects from even mild Covid infections. Researchers in both studies identified a wide range of Covid-related health problems, including heart, lung, kidney, musculoskeletal, neurological, gastrointestinal and psychiatric problems. A new study published last week in the British Medical Journal found that one dose of a Covid vaccine after a coronavirus infection could reduce the risk of long-lasting Covid symptoms by 13%. No treatments are available for long Covid, but the CDC study’s authors, who are also members of the CDC’s Covid-19 Emergency Response Team, concluded that a “routine assessment of post-COVID conditions” among coronavirus survivors could be crucial in reducing long covid ailments, particularly in seniors.
What we don’t know
The exact causes of long Covid. While researchers have found that severe coronavirus infections can lead to more debilitating symptoms, they have yet to discover the exact mechanisms that lead to continued health problems months and even years after infection.
Further reading
According to a CDC study, more than one in five adult Covid survivors in the US can develop long Covid. (New York Times)
Vaccination after infection could reduce risk of long covid, study finds (Forbes)
