1704218258
Study shows patients hospitalized with flu or COVID-19 are at increased risk of long-term health problems and death.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, extensive research has been published detailing the virus’s ability to attack multiple organ systems, which could lead to a range of persistent and often disabling health problems known as COVID. Now, new research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System suggests that people who are hospitalized with seasonal flu may also suffer long-term negative health effects, particularly on the lungs and the respiratory tract.
Comparative study of COVID-19 and seasonal flu
The new study comparing the viruses that cause COVID-19 and flu also found that patients hospitalized with COVID-19 or seasonal flu were at increased risk of death, readmission to hospital within 18 months of infection Hospital and health problems in many organs were exposed. systems. In addition, the time of highest risk was 30 days or more after the initial infection.
Main conclusions and implications
“The study highlights the high number of deaths and health losses following hospitalization for COVID-19 or seasonal flu,” said lead author Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, a clinical epidemiologist at the University of Washington. “It is important to note that health risks were higher after the first 30 days of infection. Many people believe they have recovered from COVID-19 or the flu after leaving the hospital. This may be true for some people. However, our research shows that both viruses can cause long-term illness.
The results were published on December 14th The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
The statistical analysis lasted up to 18 months after infection and included a comparative assessment of the risk of death, hospitalizations and 94 adverse health effects affecting the body’s major organ systems.
New research approach
“A review of previous studies on COVID-19 compared to influenza focused on a narrow, short-term set of health outcomes,” said Al-Aly, who treats patients at VA St. Louis Health Care and is an assistant professor of medicine at Washington University . “Our new approach compared the long-term health effects of a variety of diseases. Five years ago I would not have thought to consider the possibility of a “long flu.” An important lesson we have learned from SARS-CoV-2 is that an infection initially thought to cause only a short illness can also lead to a chronic illness. This discovery motivated us to investigate the long-term consequences of COVID-19 compared to influenza.
“We wanted to know whether and to what extent people with flu also experience long-term health effects,” Al-Aly said. “The big answer is that both COVID-19 and the flu have resulted in long-term health problems, and the big moment was the realization that the magnitude of the long-term health loss outweighed the problems that these patients initially struggled with Shadows.” Illness. the infection. Long COVID is a much bigger health problem than COVID, and long flu is a much bigger health problem than the flu.
Differences in health risks between COVID-19 and seasonal flu
However, the overall risk and incidence of death, hospitalization and adverse health effects in many organ systems is significantly higher in patients with COVID-19 than in patients who have had seasonal influenza, Al-Ali said. “The only notable exception is that influenza poses a higher risk to the pulmonary system than COVID-19,” he said.
“This shows us that the flu is actually more of a respiratory virus, as we have all thought for the last 100 years. In comparison, COVID-19 is more aggressive and indiscriminate because it can attack the pulmonary system but can also affect any organ system and is more likely to cause fatal or serious diseases of the heart, brain, kidneys and other organs. »
Data source and patient demographics
The researchers analyzed deidentified medical records in a database at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the largest integrated health care system in the country. They evaluated information on 81,280 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 sometime between March 1, 2020 and June 30, 2022, and 10,985 patients hospitalized sometime between October 1, 2015 and June 30, 2022 were hospitalized with seasonal flu. February 28, 2019.
The patients represented different age groups, races and genders.
Regarding the two viruses, the vaccination status of the patients had no influence on the results. Members of the COVID-19 cohort were hospitalized in the period before Delta, Delta and Omicron.
Results of a study on COVID-19 and seasonal flu
Throughout the 18-month study period, COVID-19 patients had a 50% higher risk of death than those with seasonal flu. That equates to about eight more deaths per 100 people in the COVID-19 group than in people with flu.
Although COVID-19 poses a greater risk of adverse health effects than seasonal influenza, infection with either virus poses a significant risk of disability and illness. Researchers found that COVID-19 was associated with increased risk in 68% of health conditions examined across all organ systems (64 of 94 adverse health outcomes examined), while influenza was associated with increased risk in 6% of health conditions (six of 94 health conditions). . ) – mainly in the respiratory system.
In addition, patients with COVID-19 were at increased risk of hospital readmission and intensive care unit admission over 18 months. For every 100 people in each group, there were 20 more hospitalizations and nine more intensive care unit admissions for COVID-19 than for the flu.
The importance of vaccinations
“Our results highlight the continued need to reduce the risk of hospitalization for these two viruses to reduce the overall burden of health loss on the population,” Al-Aly said.
“Vaccinations against both COVID-19 and seasonal flu can help prevent serious illness and reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. Optimizing vaccination rates must remain a priority for governments and health systems around the world. This is particularly important for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
Recognize long-term health effects
For COVID-19 and influenza, more than half of deaths and disabilities occurred in the months after infection, as opposed to the first 30 days, the final period called the acute phase.
“The idea that COVID-19 or the flu are only acute illnesses overlooks their long-term impact on human health,” Al-Aly said. “Before the pandemic, we tended to downplay most viral infections as inconsequential: ‘You get sick and get over it in a few days.’ However, we realize that this is not everyone’s experience. Some people suffer from serious long-term health problems. We must recognize this reality, stop trivializing viral infections and understand that they are the main cause of chronic diseases.
This research was funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
#rise #long #flu #health #challenge #similar #long #COVID