In a recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine , researchers reported long-term follow-up data from a large cohort of individuals who have had severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. They compared it with healthy controls with no history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to estimate the risk of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) or mortality after three years. Article: Three-year outcomes of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 .
Image Credit: p.ill.i / Shutterstock Growing evidence supports the fact that SARS-CoV-2 infections can lead to persistent recurrence of a wide range of COVID-19 symptoms .
These sequelae, collectively known as PASC or >long coronavirus disease (long COVID), include post-exertional malaise, shortness of breath, neurological impairments such as difficulty concentrating, and numerous symptoms affecting almost every organ system. These symptoms also impact the overall quality of life. Although some studies have found a decrease in PASC symptoms one year after recovering from the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, among individuals with severe COVID-19 requiring hospitalization, these symptoms have been found to persist beyond two years.
Furthermore, studies have reported that a quarter of the cumulative disease and disability burden associated with PASC is from the second year after the initial infection. However, follow-up data beyond two years are limited, and the risks of persistent PASC symptoms or emergenc.
