People discharged after hospitalization for either COVID-19 or the flu face an elevated risk of medical complications, hospital readmission, and death over 18 months.
A recent study, titled "Long-term outcomes following hospital admission for COVID-19 versus seasonal influenza: a cohort study" published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases, compared long-term outcomes for patients with both infections, shedding light on the underrecognized issue of "long flu" alongside the well-known long COVID.
Flu and COVID-19: Overlooked Long-Term Risks
Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, senior study author and clinical epidemiologist at Washington University, noted that viral illnesses, like influenza, were historically often considered transient or "acute," overlooking lingering impacts in the "post-acute" phase. The COVID-19 pandemic brought attention to these issues, revealing that the flu can also lead to long-term problems.
While both COVID-19 and the flu can result in long-term effects, a head-to-head comparison emphasizes that the risks associated with a COVID-19 hospitalization are more numerous and severe than those tied to the flu, despite the flu's pronounced impact on the respiratory system.
Al-Aly explained that individuals with COVID-19 face a higher risk of death, hospitalization, and disease sequelae compared to those with the flu, making COVID-19 a more serious problem.
Furthermore, an Oxford University research in 2021 published in the journal PLOS Medicine analyzed health records of people diagnosed with flu and COVID-19, mainly in the US. Both groups, each with over 100,000 patients seeking healthcare three to six months post-infection, displayed long-term symptoms such as anxiety, abnormal breathing, fatigue, and headaches.
While COVID-19 patients had a higher likelihood of persistent symptoms at 42% compared to 30% in the flu group, the study highlights that both viruses can cause lasting problems requiring extended recovery time.
COVID-19 Hospitalizations Pose Greater Dangers Than Flu
Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly and his team used data from VA databases for the new study to identify individuals hospitalized for either COVID-19 or seasonal flu. Unlike previous research limited to six months post-hospitalization, this study extended the observation period to 18 months, examining death, hospitalization, ICU admission rates, and specific health outcomes across ten organ systems.
The findings indicated elevated rates of death, medical care, and adverse health outcomes in both COVID-19 and flu hospitalization groups. However, health risks were notably higher for COVID-19 patients.
Within the follow-up period, the COVID-19 group experienced approximately eight to nine additional deaths, 20 more hospital admissions, and eight more ICU admissions per 100 people compared to the flu group. While both illnesses posed health risks, COVID-19 affected a broader range of organ systems, with risks associated with 64 of the 94 studied symptoms and health conditions.
Despite the flu's higher risk of respiratory effects throughout the follow-up period, COVID-19 was characterized as a multisystemic illness, impacting cardiovascular, neurological, and gastrointestinal systems, among others. More than 50% of health effects in all organ systems, except gastrointestinal, occurred more than one month after hospital discharge, emphasizing the lasting impact during the post-acute phase.
The study has limitations, focusing solely on hospitalized individuals and presenting a skewed demographic of older male patients. Dr. Al-Aly emphasized the need for further research to comprehend the long-term impacts of milder cases and their implications across diverse age groups and genders. The study aims to raise awareness among both patients and healthcare providers about the enduring consequences of these diseases.
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