Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists have been studying the virus’s impact on the human body, including its ability to harm various organs, leading to a condition known as long COVID.
Recent research from Washington University School of Medicine and elsewhere has uncovered that individuals hospitalized due to seasonal influenza can also experience lasting health problems, particularly affecting their lungs and airways.
This new study compared the consequences of COVID-19 and the flu, revealing that in the 18 months following infection, patients hospitalized for either of these illnesses faced a heightened risk of death, hospital readmission, and health issues involving multiple organ systems.
Importantly, this elevated risk was most significant 30 days or more after the initial infection.
Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University and the senior author of the study, emphasized the study’s findings, saying, “The research highlights the considerable toll of death and ongoing health problems that follow hospitalization for either COVID-19 or seasonal influenza.
It’s essential to understand that the health risks continue even after the first month of infection.
Many people may assume they are in the clear after being discharged from the hospital, but our research indicates that both viruses can lead to long-lasting health issues.”
The study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, analyzed data spanning up to 18 months after infection and included a comprehensive assessment of the risks of death, hospitalization, and 94 different adverse health outcomes affecting various organ systems.
Dr. Al-Aly noted the study’s unique approach, saying, “Previous studies comparing COVID-19 and the flu focused on short-term and limited health outcomes.
Our innovative approach examined the long-term health effects across a wide range of conditions. This study has shown that both COVID-19 and the flu can result in long-lasting health problems.
Importantly, the long-term consequences appear to be more severe than the initial symptoms. Long COVID is a more significant health concern than COVID itself, and ‘long flu’ can also have a substantial impact on health.”
However, it’s essential to emphasize that the overall risk of death, hospitalization, and health problems in various organ systems remains significantly higher among COVID-19 patients than among those with seasonal influenza.
Dr. Al-Aly added, “The flu primarily affects the respiratory system, as we’ve understood for decades. In contrast, COVID-19 is more aggressive, affecting not only the respiratory system but also various organs, including the heart, brain, and kidneys, which can result in severe or fatal conditions.”
The research relied on de-identified medical records from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, involving 81,280 COVID-19 patients hospitalized between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022, and 10,985 patients hospitalized for seasonal influenza between October 1, 2015, and February 28, 2019.
The study encompassed patients of various ages, races, and genders, and vaccination status did not impact the results.
Over the 18-month study period, COVID-19 patients faced a 50% higher risk of death compared to those with seasonal influenza, equivalent to approximately eight more deaths per 100 individuals in the COVID-19 group.
Although COVID-19 exhibited a more significant risk of long-term health issues compared to the flu, both viruses posed a substantial risk of disability and disease.
COVID-19 patients had a 68% increased risk of various health conditions across all organ systems, whereas the flu was associated with a 6% increased risk of health conditions, primarily in the respiratory system.
Moreover, COVID-19 patients experienced a greater risk of hospital readmission and admission to intensive care units over the 18-month period.
For every 100 individuals in each group, there were 20 more hospital admissions and nine more ICU admissions in the COVID-19 group than in the flu group.
Dr. Al-Aly emphasized the importance of vaccination in reducing the risk of severe disease and hospitalization for both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza.
He emphasized the need to prioritize vaccination, especially among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised individuals, to mitigate the overall burden of health loss.
In both COVID-19 and the flu, the majority of deaths and disabilities occurred in the months following infection, rather than in the initial 30 days, known as the acute phase.
Dr. Al-Aly concluded, “We must recognize that viral infections can lead to long-term health problems and stop trivializing them as inconsequential. This study has shown that they can be significant contributors to chronic diseases, and we need to address this reality.”
If you care about COVID-19, please read studies about Fourth COVID-19 vaccine critical for people with autoimmune rheumatic disease and findings of Mild inflammation linked to long COVID symptoms in women.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about new way to halt excessive inflammation, and results showing foods that could cause inflammation.
The research findings can be found in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
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