Two-year follow-up of patients with post-COVID-19 condition in Sweden: a prospective cohort study 2023 Wahlgren et al

Summary
Background
Few studies have reported the long-term health effects of COVID-19. The regional population-based Linköping COVID-19 study (LinCoS) included all patients hospitalised due to COVID-19 during the first pandemic wave. Four months post-discharge, over 40% (185/433) experienced persisting symptoms and activity/participation limitations, indicating post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). The present follow-up study aimed to determine the long-term recovery among these patients 24 months post-admission.
Methods
This prospective cohort study included all patients from LinCoS with PCC at four months post-discharge. We repeated the same structured interview at a 24-month follow-up to identify persisting symptoms and their impact on daily life. Intercurrent health issues were identified by reviewing medical records.
Findings
Of 185 patients with PCC at 4 months post-discharge, 181 were alive at the 24-month assessment and 165 agreed to participate. Of those, 21% (35/165) had been readmitted to hospital for various causes in the interim period. The majority of patients (139/165, 84%) reported persisting problems affecting everyday life at 24 months. Significant improvements were seen in the prevalence and magnitude of some symptoms/limitations compared with four months post-discharge. Cognitive, sensorimotor, and fatigue symptoms were the most common persisting symptoms at 24 months. No clear difference was evident between individuals treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU-treated individuals. Approximately half of those who were on sick leave related to PCC at four months after infection were on sick leave at 24 months.
Interpretation
This is one of the first studies to report 2-year outcomes in patients with PCC following COVID-19 hospitalisation. Despite some improvements over time, we found a high prevalence of persisting symptoms and a need for long-term follow-up and rehabilitation post COVID-19 infection.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(23)00013-3/fulltext

 

Average age was 60, cohort was 63% male, 70% had serious comorbidities and 28% had been treated for COVID in ICU.

 

Ah, yes, the magical rehabilitation that just makes all illness go away if you just put some effort into it. It's been 3 years and they're still with their feet planted on the starting line.

Really, it's no wonder progress in medicine is so slow. The process is complete garbage and is fully content with stagnation, even applauds regression if there's enough hopium in the air.