The scientists were interested in the development of post-Covid after an illness.
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For three years (and the covid pandemic in Russia is exactly three years old – the first case of the disease was registered with us on January 31, 2020), Rospotrebnadzor scientists have been monitoring nurses and doctors who have been sick with a malicious virus. And the doctors, despite all the precautions, of course, got sick, someone not once or twice. The scientists were interested in the development of post-Covid after an illness.
And now, the results of a large-scale study were discussed in the webinar “The evolution of COVID-19: clinical and immunological aspects, diagnostics and therapeutic approaches”. The results were presented by Antonina Ploskireva, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Deputy Director of Clinical Work of the Rospotrebnadzor Central Research Institute of Epidemiology.
Let’s talk about the most important points.
1. I did not get sick, but there are consequences.
It is obvious that post-covid cider (ie, long-term long-term consequences) is observed in most patients who have had covid not only in a severe form, but sometimes asymptomatically. Yes, most often post-covid syndrome (PCS) is seen in seriously ill people (in about 80% of cases), but on average about 60% of all who were sick suffered from it.
2. It does not depend on the strain.
The frequency of development of PCS does not depend on the subtype of coronavirus: it was with alpha, delta and omicron. And, most likely, it will remain so, regardless of how the genetics of the coronavirus change.
3. It does not depend on vaccination.
Unfortunately, it is also a fact. Postcovid syndrome developed regardless of the presence of vaccination. But this is understandable: the doctors initially said that vaccination would not protect you from infection, but would protect you from a severe course of the disease and from complications. At the same time, all doctors note that PCS is not a complication, but a continuation, a long tail of the disease itself.
Postcovid syndrome developed regardless of the presence of vaccination.
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4. Age – average.
The average age of those who most presented PCS was between 30 and 60 years. But, in principle, this is obvious, because doctors of working age participated in the Russian study.
Foreign studies also point to the presence of post-covid syndrome in children and adolescents. It is expressed in fatigue, decreased cognitive functions, memory.
5. What exactly influences the development of the syndrome.
Doctors still cannot really understand what the development of post-covid syndrome is related to, but they name the factors that are exactly responsible for the fact that it will be:
* female (in women it develops in 70%, in men – in 50%);
* excess weight: generally aggravates the course of all diseases, including covid, and the development of post-covid is often responsible;
* the presence of allergies (especially chronic forms).
6. The brightest manifestations.
Here our data is consistent with international studies:
First place (49%): asthenia, that is, fatigue, lack of strength.
In the second (36%) – memory impairment, constant forgetfulness.
In the third (27%): cognitive impairment, that is, difficulty with memorization, decision making, concentration. In a word, all those functions that are most often required at work.
In the fourth (11.7%) – violation of respiratory function, that is, shortness of breath, shortness of breath.
In the fifth (5.7%) – dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea.
Additionally, severe post-Covid symptoms include kidney failure, heart attacks, and strokes. And 3% of those who recovered had an exacerbation of herpes infection (0.1% of them had shingles).
A clear trend was noted: which symptoms were more during the acute period, they will definitely “shoot up” in the post-COVID. For example, there were problems with breathing, pneumonia was tormented, which means it will again be post-COVID, affecting breathing. If you were tormented by pain in the intestines, wait for them.
7. Triggers autoimmune diseases.
“Unfortunately, there has also been a trend towards the manifestation of genetically determined forms of the post-covid syndrome,” says Professor Ploskireva. – That is, the virus triggers the development of autoimmune diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, thyroiditis. And quite a few primary pathologies of the cardiovascular system, including newly diagnosed arterial hypertension (hypertension).
BY THE WAY
What evidence is needed if the consequences are tormenting?
If the patient is tormented by unpleasant post-Covid symptoms 12 weeks after the disease, it is necessary to consult a general practitioner or general practitioner, recommends Vera Makashova, MD, professor, leading researcher at the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology from Rospotrebnadzor. What research is needed:
1. Take a blood test to determine the level of antibodies (antinuclear, autoimmune and neutralizing).
2. Echocardiography, if you are concerned about tachycardia or pain in the heart.
3. CT scan of the chest to rule out pericarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart is often a complication after viral diseases).
4. The attending physician must determine additional studies (to exclude possible consequences) based on complaints.
But one thing is clear: the post-COVID syndrome will haunt many of us for many years, as long as the coronavirus exists. Therefore, more scientific research is needed, as well as the creation of special multidisciplinary rehabilitation institutions, from hospitals to dispensaries. And, of course, the further development of methods for the rehabilitation and treatment of PCS.
According to State Duma deputy Galina Karelova, one in ten sanatoriums in the country have already prepared programs for the rehabilitation of people with post-COVID syndrome. You can be attended both by the Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund, and on your own.
