One of the most disconcerting parts of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially now that vaccines and other therapies are widely available that help prevent severe disease and death from the virus, is the vast number of people who had the disease and are dealing with persistent symptoms or other health-related issues long after they were infected.

This phenomenon is known as “long COVID,” and a new study is out that suggests it affects one in every five adults from 18-64 and one in every four seniors age 65 and older.

Schenectady Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at this new study being shared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and what specific health issues are becoming a concern.

Details of the Study

Patients in both age groups were followed for a period of time between 30 and 365 days. People who both had been previously infected with COVID-19 and those who had not were followed, and the results showed that those in the 18-64 group who had COVID had a 21% increase in long symptoms, and those 65 and older had a 27% increase.

What Conditions Are Associated With Long COVID?

The most common long-term effect of a COVID-19 infection has been respiratory issues, including pulmonary embolism, which is when a blood clot gets stuck in the lung and blocks blood flow to part o the lung. Musculoskeletal pain was also a commonly reported issue.

Heart issues, such as cardiac dysrhythmia, was higher among the 18-64 group than in seniors.

In seniors, greater occurrences of reported issues included renal failure, type 2 diabetes, neurologic conditions, and mental health conditions like mood disorders, anxiety, and substance-related disorders.

To learn more about Schenectady Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://schnectady-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.