Coronavirus in China: half of Covid-19 survivors still suffer from one symptom two years on, study shows
- Study by Wuhan and Beijing researchers covers longest follow-up period to date for discharged Covid-19 patients
- Fatigue, anxiety and impaired lung ability among long-term complaints, with risks rising with age
Based on data compiled by scientists from Beijing and Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the first cases of the pandemic were reported, the study is the longest follow-up on the health impact of Covid-19 for patients who needed hospital care.
At least 55 per cent reported at least one long-term symptom even after two years, with fatigue or muscle weakness among the most common, according to the study led by Cao Bin at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing.
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The peer-reviewed research, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal on Wednesday, traced the condition of about 2,500 patients discharged from Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan between January 7 and May 29, 2020.
Their physical and mental health conditions were recorded at six months, a year and two years after discharge. The average age at discharge was 57.
Eventually, 1,192 of case studies completed the two year period of medical checks and questionnaires, and the result was compared with a control group by matching age, gender and comorbidities. The control group had never contracted Covid-19.
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While other similar studies have traced the long-term health impact of acute coronavirus infection, those extended to only a year, making the Cao-led study the longest of its kind.
