More evidence is emerging that a serious infection can leave some major organs with long-term damage.
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People living with Covid for a long time are more likely to suffer damage to their major organs after being admitted to hospital, according to a new study from the UK.
MRI revealed that these patients were three times more likely to have abnormalities in multiple organs, including the lungs, brain and kidneys.
Researchers believe there is a link to the severity of the disease in these patients.
This study is expected to help promote more effective treatments for Covid in the long term.
The research was published in the scientific journal Lancet Respiratory Medicine and analyzed 259 patients who, due to the virus, needed to be hospitalized.
Five months after discharge from hospital, MRI scans of major organs showed some significant differences compared to a group of 52 people who had never had Covid.
Other factors
The biggest impact was seen in the lungs, an organ where tests showed abnormalities were 14 times more likely to occur.
MRI also showed three times the chance of abnormalities in the brain (and twice the chance in the kidneys) among people with severe Covid.
No significant differences were found in heart or liver health.
Betty Raman, from the University of Oxford in England, and one of the study’s lead researchers, says it is clear that those living with long-term Covid symptoms are more likely to have suffered damage to certain organs.
“Five months after discharge from hospital for Covid, we found more lung, brain and kidney abnormalities in these patients compared to the group who never had Covid,” he points out.
“The age of the patient, the severity of Covid and whether they were suffering from other diseases at the same time were important factors in determining whether or not we found damage to these important organs of the body,” he adds.
New treatments
The findings are part of a larger study looking at the long-term effects of Covid on people hospitalized, known as the Phosp-Covid study.
The researchers found that some symptoms coincided with signs of organ damage revealed by MRI scans, for example, chest tightness and abnormal coughing.
However, not all the symptoms experienced by those living with Covid for a long time can be directly linked to what is observed in the tests.
Raman notes that it appears that abnormalities in more than one organ were more common among people who were hospitalized and still reported physical and mental health problems after recovering from the initial infection.
“What we’re seeing is that people with multiorgan pathology on MRI, meaning they had more than two organs affected, were four times more likely to have severe and very severe physical and mental damage.”
“Our findings also highlight the need for long-term multidisciplinary follow-up services focused on pulmonary and extrapulmonary (kidney, brain and mental health) health, especially for those who have been admitted to hospital with Covid.”
Chris Brightling, of the University of Leicester in England, who is leading the Phosp-Covid study, says the research is part of a broader effort to understand the cluster of different symptoms that make up the syndrome known as long Covid.
“This detailed whole-body imaging study confirms that changes are observed in multiple organs months after hospitalization for Covid.”
“We are working to understand why this is happening and how we can develop tests and new treatments for long-term Covid.”
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
