August 21, 2023
The study found people that long COVID generated more than 80 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for every 1,000 people who weren’t hospitalized for their initial infection. This is a higher burden of disability than either heart disease or cancer, which cause about 52 and 50 DALYs. Out of 77 different long COVID issues studied, people who were hospitalized remained at elevated risk for about two-thirds of them even two years later. These included heart problems, stomach problems, memory and thinking difficulties, blood clots, diabetes and lung problems. They were also more likely to have a substance use disorder and more likely to contemplate suicide.