Most Covid patients still sick 1yr after hospital stay
THE majority of people hospitalised with Covid are still poorly a year after being discharged.
A UK study has revealed that just one in four reported feeling fully recovered 12 months on.
And researchers say Long Covid – which causes fatigue, muscle pain and breathlessness – could become “highly prevalent”.
Currently, the number of people with the virus in the UK continues to fall.
RISK
Latest weekly data from the Office for National Statistics shows around one in 17 now have Covid – down from one in 15.
The Long Covid study revealed women, the obese and people put on ventilators have a higher risk of suffering for longer.
Ventilator patients were 58% less likely to be fully recovered a year after their hospital stay. Obese people were 50% less likely to be better and women 32% less likely to be well.
Prof Christopher Brightling, of the National Institute for Health Research, said the number of Long Covid patients was rising.
He added: “Without effective treatments, Long Covid could become highly prevalent.”