Health
Long COVID symptoms create a greater burden of disability than heart disease or cancer, new study shows
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People who survived COVID-19 early in the pandemic, before there were vaccines, continued to be at higher risk for a slew of health problems for up to two years after they got over their initial infections, a new study finds, and that was especially true if they were hospitalized.
These health problems include heart problems, blood clots, diabetes, neurologic complications, fatigue and difficulties with mental health and have come to be known collectively as long COVID.
When researchers tallied the risks for more than 80 different complications that are associated with long COVID, they translated the collective toll into a metric called a disability adjusted life year, or DALY. Each DALY represents one year of healthy life lost to illness. They found that long COVID generated more than 80 disability-adjusted life years, or DALYs, for every 1,000 people who weren’t hospitalized for their initial infection.
That means long COVID creates a higher burden of disability than either heart disease or cancer, which cause about 52 and 50 DALYs for every 1,000 Americans, respectively, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s Global Burden of Disease study.
“When I looked at that initially, I was really shocked,” said study author Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, who is director of the clinical epidemiology center at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System. “That’s actually a huge number.
“We did the analyses multiple times and, and then it just always can come back to be to be the same.”
After considering their findings, though, Al-Aly said it really shouldn’t be such a huge surprise that long COVID is so disabling, because it affects so many different parts of the body.
Al-Aly said his study should be a wake-up call.
“I think that we need to understand that infections lead to chronic disease and we need to take infection seriously,” even when it seems to be mild, Al-Aly said.
The study, which was published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine, looked at the medical records of nearly 140,000 veterans who survived for 30 days after getting a COVID-19 infection in 2020, and compared their health outcomes to nearly 6 million other patients in the VA health system who had no evidence of infection.
The study has some important caveats. On average, the people in the study were older, in their 60s, and almost 90% were male, so the findings may not translate to those who are younger or to women.
None of the people in the study were vaccinated at the time they were infected because the vaccines had not been developed yet, and there weren’t yet antiviral treatments targeted to COVID-19. Studies have since shown that vaccination and early treatment can help curb long COVID risk.
The researchers only included people in the COVID-19 infection group if they had a positive test, but tests were slow to roll out early in the pandemic, and the researchers say many people may have had the infection with no test results recorded in their medical records. That may have resulted in some people being included in the control group when they should have been in the infection group. If that was a large number of people, the study authors say, their results may be an underestimation of the true risks people faced post-infection.
Al-Aly said he used this group because he wanted to learn more about the long-term outcomes for people who get COVID-19, and he needed to find patients who were more than two years past their infections, so these risks may have gone down over time as vaccines and better treatments were developed.
Still, the study paints a sobering picture of how long people faced physical consequences from early infections.
The study found people who were not hospitalized with COVID-19, still had an elevated risk of death for about six months after they first got sick.
Over the two years, their risk of having many long COVID symptoms went down, but it remained elevated for about one-third of the 77 ailments that were studied. Some of those lingering problems included blood clots, a slower than normal heartbeat, fatigue, diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, sleep problems, muscle and joint pain, headache, hearing and smell loss, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
People in the group who had to be treated in the hospital for an initial COVID-19 infection fared even worse. They remained at increased risk for death and hospitalization for at least two years after they recovered from their acute symptoms.
Out of 77 different long COVID issues studied, people who were hospitalized remained at elevated risk for about two-thirds of them even two years later. These included heart problems, stomach problems, memory and thinking difficulties, blood clots, diabetes and lung problems. They were also more likely to have a substance use disorder, including for alcohol and opioids. They were also more likely to report contemplating suicide.
“Our findings highlight the substantial cumulative burden of health loss due to long COVID, and emphasize the ongoing need for health care for those faced with long COVID,” said Al-Aly.
“It appears that the effects of long COVID for many will not only impact such patients and their quality of life, but potentially will contribute to a decline in life expectancy, and also may impact labor participation, economic productivity, and societal well-being.”
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Health
What Is Sloth Fever, and Can You Catch It in Canada?
Health
Sloth Virus Spreads to Europe: Oropouche Fever Emerges as Global Health Threat
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An insect-transmitted virus that can infect sloths, primates, and birds is spreading at an “unprecedented” rate, according to global health officials. Oropouche fever, a potentially fatal zoonotic disease, is now emerging in parts of the world where it has never been detected before, including Europe. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the virus, transmitted by tiny flies called midges and mosquitoes, is spreading beyond its traditional stronghold in Central and South America.
Oropouche fever, which is part of the same family of diseases as Zika and dengue fever, has traditionally circulated in Central and South America. However, recent research published on August 8 in The Lancet indicates that the virus has also been detected in new locations, including Cuba, Italy, and Spain.
The research paper noted that “Arboviral infections have hit South America heavily in the past decade…. In addition, the region is now facing the re-emergence of another little-known arbovirus, Oropouche virus, on an unprecedented scale.” As of August 1, 2024, there have been 8,078 confirmed cases in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, compared to just 832 cases reported in 2023. The first deaths linked to Oropouche fever were reported in late July, involving two young women in Brazil with no underlying medical conditions.
In response to the virus’s spread, both the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have issued warnings. In June and July, Europe reported its first 19 cases of Oropouche virus disease, with Spain (12 cases), Italy (five cases), and Germany (two cases) being affected. The majority of these cases were linked to travel to Cuba, with one case connected to Brazil.
Dr. Isaac Bogoch, a Toronto-based infectious diseases specialist, expressed concern over the virus’s potential spread to Canada, especially given the rise in cases in popular travel destinations like Cuba. “There’s a giant knowledge gap,” Bogoch said, highlighting that many healthcare professionals and the general public may be unaware of the virus, which could lead to underreporting.
Oropouche fever is a zoonotic disease first identified among forest workers in Trinidad in 1955, and later in a sloth in Brazil in 1960. Since then, more than 500,000 cases have been reported in the Americas, though the true extent of the virus’s spread may be underestimated. The virus is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected midge or mosquito, with no direct human-to-human transmission documented so far.
Symptoms of Oropouche fever can resemble those of dengue fever and Zika virus, including fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, sensitivity to light, and pain behind the eyes. In rare cases, the virus can lead to severe complications such as aseptic meningitis, which involves inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain.
The spread of Oropouche fever has been linked to climate change, urbanization, and deforestation. A study from 2017 examined an outbreak in Peru and found a significant connection to deforestation, which may displace the virus’s animal hosts and increase the likelihood of midges feeding on humans. Extreme weather conditions such as heavy rainfall and flooding, which create ideal breeding conditions for midges, have also been identified as contributing factors.
Currently, there is no vaccine or specific treatment for Oropouche fever. Prevention is the best defense, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommending the use of insect repellent, window and door screens, and fans to keep midges and mosquitoes at bay. Since midges are smaller than mosquitoes, traditional mosquito nets may not be effective.
“Good insect repellent works extraordinarily well,” Bogoch advised, recommending repellents containing 30% DEET or 20% picaridin for the best protection.
The Canadian government has also issued travel precautions, advising those traveling to regions with Oropouche fever outbreaks to take extra care, particularly pregnant women, due to the potential risk of transmission from mother to fetus.
As the virus continues to spread, health officials urge travelers and healthcare providers to remain vigilant and report any symptoms that could be related to Oropouche fever. The situation highlights the growing threat of infectious diseases in a rapidly changing global climate.
Health
Achieving Your Fitness Goals: A Comprehensive Guide to Nutritional Support
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Starting a fitness regimen calls for proper nutrition. Fitness calls for a healthy, well-planned diet tailored to your needs, not only exercise. The major nutrition elements that can improve your fitness potential will be covered in this all-inclusive book.
Understand your nutritional needs.
Maximizing results depends on knowing your body’s dietary requirements. Age, gender, weight, degree of exercise, and fitness goals all affect one’s needs. A balanced diet should also call for carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. While dietitians and nutritionists can offer advice, basic concepts can get you going.
Do you need supplements?
Although they can be a great addition to a good diet, supplements shouldn’t be taken as replacements. Nutritional deficits can be filled in part with multivitamins, protein powders, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D pills. Before adding any premium vitamins to your regimen, though, you should see a medical practitioner. This stage guarantees that you are making wise judgments catered to your requirements and health condition, giving you confidence in your choices.
Some exercise supplements are supposed to improve performance and recovery. Products for muscular development and endurance exist from numerous reputable sources, like flexpharma.is. Researching and choosing supplements that meet your goals and degree of fitness is essential to make sure they will offer the expected results.
Macronutrients’ role
Macronutrients and diet components help in many ways in supporting fitness goals. Your regular workouts and activities depend on carbohydrates for energy. For nutrients and energy, choose complex carbohydrates including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Proteins are needed for muscle development and repair Among the lean proteins that help muscle development and recovery are chicken, fish, tofu, and lentils. Moreover, proteins satisfy you, reducing the need for continuous unhealthy dietary intake.
Though perspectives vary, fats are vital for controlling hormones and general health. Moderately ingested good fats can have benefits. Avocado, almonds, seeds, and olive oil give long-lasting energy and support cellular activity vital for fitness.
Hydration and micronutrients
Although macronutrients are vital, vitamins and minerals are just as critical. These components support immune response, bone health, and energy generation. To satisfy your micronutrient requirements, load many vibrantly coloured fruits and vegetables.
Nutritional support calls for hydration as well. Every cellular function—body warmth, joint lubrication, nutrient transfer—depends on water. Eight glasses of water a day—more if you exercise vigorously. Liquids high in electrolytes can help with mineral replacement following demanding workouts.
Sustainable eating plan
One diet you can stick to without feeling hungry or anxious is sustainable. Set realistic diet goals and gradually change. Reduce sugary processed foods and increase nutrient-dense foods. Food preparation and planning will help you eat well all week.
Listen to your body, too. Consider how diet affects energy and performance. Everyone reacts differently, so what works for one may not work for another. A diet should reflect your growth and experiences.
Conclusion
Fitness requires nutrition. Know your nutritional needs, balance macronutrients, get appropriate micronutrients, and keep hydrated to perform well. A good diet and the utilization of supplements will determine your success. Consistency and diet are key to fitness. Start now and let diet affect your workouts.
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