A year after their hospitalization for Covid-19, many people have sequelae of the disease.

"About half" of patients discharged from hospital "still suffer from at least one persistent symptom (most often fatigue or muscle weakness) and one in three patients still have shortness of breath," said a Chinese study published. Friday in the British magazine

The Lancet

.

These proportions are even higher in patients with a severe form of Covid who have stayed in an intensive care unit.

Persistent symptoms

To reach these conclusions, the researchers relied on the health check carried out by nearly 1,300 people discharged between January and May 2020 from a hospital in Wuhan, the first city affected by the pandemic. They compared these data with those collected six months after the discharge of the same patients. Result: "the proportion of patients with still at least one symptom or sequela decreased from 68% after six months, to 49% after twelve months".

In detail, "the proportion of patients with dyspnea (respiratory discomfort) increased slightly, from 26% during the visit after six months, to 30% at the visit after 12 months".

And the share of patients with decreased lung diffusing capacity (i.e. poorer transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide between lungs and blood) showed no improvement between the two deadlines.


The study also shows an increase in the proportion of patients suffering from anxiety or depression, to 26% against 23%.

Take better account of long-term effects

The authors also point out that women are 43% more likely than men to suffer from fatigue or persistent muscle weakness, and twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression.

They are also three times more affected by a decrease in the diffusion capacity of their lungs.

This study, the first with a year of hindsight, adds to previous research that warns authorities in different countries that "health systems must be prepared to provide long-term support" to health workers. patients affected by Covid.

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