Some people infected with Covid-19 experience few or no symptoms of the disease. However, this infection can leave traces and generate pathologies later.
- In most cases, the symptoms of the disease disappear within two to three weeks.
- When they persist, it is a Covid-long.
- In this study, the researchers were interested in sequelae that are not necessarily felt by patients.
It takes between 5 and 8 days to get rid of Covid-19, for non-serious or even asymptomatic cases. But the virus could leave traces. According to a study published in European Heart Journal, people affected by mild forms of the disease could have sequelae. According to the German researchers who published it, several organs may be involved.
This scientific work is based on two groups of participants: the first brought together more than 400 people, having been positive for Covid-19, the second was the control group, made up of more than 1,300 people. In the group of people who had the disease, no participant was hospitalized, which suggests that it was only mild or moderate forms. The study lasted almost ten months, during which time the researchers carried out medical tests to assess the health status of the participants.
Effects on the heart and lungs
They found that people who contracted Covid-19 had lung volume shrinkage of around 3%. At the cardiac level, they noticed a slight decrease in left ventricular function, and damage to the femoral veins, which may suggest a risk of venous thrombosis This pathology is caused by the formation of a blood clot in a vein, which blocks the blood circulation.
This is not the first time that Covid-19 has been associated with a risk of thrombosis: in September 2020, a study showed that patients hospitalized because of the virus had a 7.9% risk of being affected, and 22.7% for those placed in intensive care. The authors of this study observed higher levels of cardiac biomarkers, compared to the control group: “a slight increase in the concentration of NT-proBNP translates into an increased risk of mortality in the general population”, they said. This marker is one of the screening methods for heart failure, when the heart can no longer pump blood properly to ensure oxygenation of the organs.
Better follow-up for people who have contracted Covid-19
Finally, people who have contracted Covid-19 could also experience a slight decline in kidney function. “The differences observed in our study could therefore reflect specific sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, associated with a potential early onset of chronic kidney disease, which is an important risk factor for mortality and cardiovascular events., they pointed out. On the other hand, the researchers found no brain damage and no signs of impaired cognitive functions. For researchers, it is essential to follow patients who have tested positive over the long term. They recommend full follow-up within months of infection.
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