What We Know About the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
Patients with COVID-19 who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) could have a greater risk of long-term health issues.
Additionally, people requiring intensive care are at increased risk for mental health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.
Impaired lung function from SARS-CoV-2 infection can negatively affect other organs like the heart, kidneys, and brain, with significant health impacts that may last after getting over the infection.
All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. Visit our coronavirus hub and follow our live updates page for the most recent information on the COVID-19 outbreak.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are well known, and a battery of treatment measures have been used to save lives. However, much less is known about what happens after recovery.
Do people who’ve beaten COVID-19 have to worry about their long-term health?
“Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), seen often in severe COVID-19 illness, sometimes develop permanent lung damage or fibrosis as well,” Dr. Andrew Martin, chair, pulmonary medicine at Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey, told Healthline.