The current state of public health with regard to COVID is far more callous as compared to the crippling state of affairs during the height of the pandemic in 2020. With increased awareness and vaccinations, decreased morbidity and infections, and lack of social regulations, all of us have started taking the deadly Sars-Cov-2 virus lightly.
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However, recent research by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is compelling enough to prove that mankind’s fight against COVID-19 is far from over. According to research conducted by a network of hospitals under ICMR, 6.5% of the patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 infection, died at the end of the one-year follow-up period.
Findings Of The ICMR Study
The ICMR study proved that people who suffer post-COVID conditions after being discharged, compared to asymptomatic COVID patients, are almost three times more likely to pass away within the year. The results of the study were based on a year of telephonic follow-up of 14,419 patients across 31 hospitals. Of the 942 deaths, 175 (18.6 per cent) were in the age group of 18-45 years. The current analysis also showed that participants younger than 18 years were 1.7 times more likely to die after being discharged from the hospital.
These findings are alarming because India is still recovering from the massive gashes made by COVID during the height of its insurgence in the country. As per Bioscience researchers in Rajpur, India, the SARS-CoV-2 crisis dramatically impeded the economy of the nation. India witnessed 2nd highest number of confirmed cases and 3rd highest number of deaths, due to COVID, across the world.
ICMR’s research considered participants only if they exhibited post-COVID symptoms including persistent or new onset of fatigue, breathlessness, cognitive abnormalities like poor memory or inability to focus, and brain fog, up to four weeks after being discharged from the hospital.
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ICMR informed that as per their study, 17.1% of those hospitalised since September 2020 experienced post-Covid conditions. Male patients above the age of 60 were found to be at a higher risk of death in the year after discharge.
The research also highlighted how vaccines have been a saving grace for the Indian masses, as those who received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine showed 40% less risk of death between the first follow-up at four weeks.
However, it is essential to note that the 6.5% mortality rate is only applicable in severe cases of long COVID. Additionally, the high rate of mortality after recovering from COVID-19 was seen more in people living with comorbidities such as liver or kidney diseases.
Do Not Take COVID Lightly
ICMR’s study has proven that COVID is still very much a looming threat to public health. It is not yet time to throw caution to the wind, pack our masks away, and overcrowd public spaces.
If you experience persistent or new symptoms after a COVID-19 infection, it’s crucial to seek medical attention urgently.
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Remember that post-COVID complication is a complex condition, and its risk factors and prevention strategies are still being studied. The best approach is to take precautions to avoid COVID-19 infection altogether. Do not leave your home without face masks, especially if you feel under the weather. Keep a sanitiser handy always. Practice social distancing, and maintain your body’s natural immunity through a healthy diet, workout regimen, and immaculate hygiene. Additionally, getting vaccinated remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of severe illness and long-term symptoms associated with COVID-19.