Two years after confirmed infection more than 1 in 6 unvaccinated people report health effects of COVID

Around 1 in 6 unvaccinated individuals say they are still experiencing health effects of covid-19 up to two years after infection, finds a study from Switzerland published by The BMJ today. The findings show that 17% of participants did not return to normal health and 18% reported covid-19 related symptoms 24 months after initial infection.

Their findings are based on 1 1,106 unvaccinated adults (average age 50) with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between 6 August 2020 and 19 January 2021 and 628 adults (average age 65) randomly selected from the general population who had not had the virus.

Overall, 55% of participants reported returning to their normal health status less than a month after infection, and 18% reported recovery within one to three months. By six months, 23% of participants reported that they had not yet recovered, reducing to 19% at 12 months, and 17% at 24 months. The proportions of people still experiencing symptoms thought to be related to covid-19 at the three timepoints were similar but slightly higher, decreasing from 29% at six months, to 20% at 12 months, and to 18% at 24 months.

Compared with people who did not have an infection, those with covid-19 had excess risks for both physical problems, such as 2altered taste or smell (9.8%), 3malaise after exertion (9.4%), 4 and shortness of breath (7.8%), 5 and mental health issues, such as reduced concentration (8.3%) and anxiety (4%) at month six.

Reference:

Recovery and symptom trajectories up to two years after SARS-CoV-2