Study documented higher rate of mortality  and COPD as compared to people who did not have COVID.

Journal of Amecican Medical Association -4 th March 2023

• Many individuals experience ongoing symptoms following the onset of COVID-19
• One -year  adverse outocmes among US adults with post Covid-19 condition vs Those without Covid-19in a large commercial insurance Database

India

healthysoch

New Delhi, March 6, 2023:

This case control study has proven that high incidence is due to post covid condition. 13 435 individuals with Post covid condition were compared with 26 870 individuals with no evidence of COVID-19 for a period of one year

During follow-up, the Post Covid cohort experienced increased incidence cardiac arrhythmias (relative risk [RR], 2.35;), pulmonary embolism (RR, 3.64), ischemic stroke (RR, 2.17), coronary artery disease (RR, 1.78) heart failure (RR, 1.97), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (RR, 1.94), and asthma (RR, 1.95) were found

There was increased mortality 2.8% v/s 1.2% implying excess deaths, (excess death rate of 16.4 per 1000 individuals). . There is need for continued monitoring for Post-covid individuals, especially for cardiovascular and pulmonary management.

Dr (Prof) G C Khilnani said, We all have witnessed unusual rate of increased cases of sudden cardiac deaths in apparently healthy individuals; several of them among fellow doctors. Long Covid is well recognized entity and consisted of fatigue, cough, pain (joint, throat, chest), loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, brain-fog depression, panic attacks and others. We all are living with it for some time and have taken it as `Fait accompli’ . This land mark large study published today has documented higher rate of mortality and high risk of cardiac events, pulmonary embolism, strokes and COPD as compared to people who did not have COVID.

High incidence of clotting (thrombosis) leading to cardiac and brain strokes have been thought to be attributed to Covid vaccinations and there has been a huge lobby of `Anti Vaccine’ , especially in USA. This case control study has proven that high incidence is due to post covid condition. Two messages come through with this study. One that middle-aged and elderly with history of Covid should watch for hypertension, obesity and cholesterol. They also should not indulge in unusual heavy exercise as several sudden deaths have been reported with such endeavours. Although Covid is quiescent in India the vaccination MUST continue to prevent infection as and when it comes (HOPE NOT)

Dr(Prof) G C Khilnani is the Chairman, PSRI Institute of Pulmonary, Critical care and Sleep Medicine Formerly Professor and Head of Dept of Pulmonary, Critical care and Sleep Medicine. AIIMS, New Delhi

healthysoch