A new observational study published in the BMJ suggests that around one-third of older adults infected with COVID-19 in the year 2020 developed at least one new health condition that called for medical attention in the months after initial infection.

Investigators in the US noted that the conditions involved several major organs and systems, including the heart, kidneys, lungs and liver, and mental health complications.

Health insurance plan records were used to identify 133,366 individuals aged 65 years or older in 2020, diagnosed with COVID-19 prior to April 1, 2020. They were matched to three non-COVID comparison groups from 2020, 2019, and a group with viral lower respiratory tract disease. Any persistent or new conditions or sequelae beginning 21 days following a diagnosis of COVID-19 were noted. The investigators determined the excess risk for conditions fuelled by the disease over several months on the basis of age, race, sex, and whether the patients were hospitalized for COVID-19. Among the people diagnosed with COVID in 2020, around 32% needed medical attention in the post-acute period for one or more new or persistent conditions. This figure was 11% higher than the comparison group from2020… (NDTV – PTI, February 10, 2022)