During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the patients experienced what was popularly known as long COVID or post-acute COVID-19. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define it as signs, symptoms, and conditions that continue or develop after an acute COVID-19 infection.
However, what many people do not know is that other viruses can also cause long-term complications and have prolonged post-infection symptoms. A recent study published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases shed light on the same.
Study Details
Referring to the study, author Dr Ziyad Al-Aly, chief of research and development at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System and a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis, said, "We learned from COVID-19 that infections that are initially thought to cause only acute illnesses can cause chronic disease.”
The team of researchers used data from the US Department of Veterans Affairs to compare the long-term effects of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza on hospitalised patients. They analysed data from over 81,000 COVID-19 patients admitted between 2020 and 2022 and compared them to over 10,000 influenza patients admitted between 2015 and 2019.
Also Read: Study Finds Long COVID Can Occur In People Who’ve Tested Negative For COVID: Know The Signs
All participants were tracked for up to 18 months to assess their risk of death, various health issues, and hospital readmissions.
The study found that COVID-19 patients faced a significantly higher risk of death, with an 8.62 per 100 higher excess death rate compared to influenza. Additionally, COVID-19 patients were more likely to experience 64 out of 94 pre-specified health problems, affecting most organ systems except the lungs, which were more strongly impacted by influenza.
Overall, COVID-19 led to a higher burden of health problems and readmissions, highlighting its significantly greater long-term impact compared to seasonal influenza.
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What Is Long Flu?
In an interaction with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Harshad Limaye, Senior Consultant-General Medicine, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai, who was not part of the study, said, “Long flu or post-viral syndromes following the flu are indeed rare and less documented compared to the extensive attention given to long COVID.”
He added, “Post-viral syndromes, characterised by lingering symptoms like fatigue, weakness, or malaise, can occur after various viral illnesses, including the flu, albeit less commonly.”
Common symptoms include:
- Fever or sudden chills
- A new, persistent cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Sore Throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea
COVID Is More Serious Than The Flu
According to Al-Aly, COVID is still more serious than the flu. He highlights that the SARS-CoV-2 virus has the potential to affect several organs, whereas the influenza virus mostly impacts the respiratory system, as seen in the study.
Dr Limaye said, “In comparison to COVID-19, the flu typically doesn't cause long-term effects for most patients, and the majority do recover completely. However, in some cases, especially with severe influenza infections, there can be damage to the respiratory system.”
Additionally, complications may arise when secondary bacterial or fungal infections occur. These instances can make the flu problematic, particularly when the immune system is weakened, but generally, the intensity and frequency of such complications are lower than those seen with COVID-19,” he added.
Who Is More At Risk Of Long COVID?
Here are some of the people who may be at a higher risk of getting the flu:
- Elderly individuals (over 65 years old)
- Those with underlying health conditions (such as diabetes, obesity, or heart disease)
- Immunocompromised individuals
Conclusion
Not just COVID-19 but other infections and illnesses can cause long-term health complications. Some viruses, like the flu, existed long before the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, what differentiated the attention on "long COVID" was its widespread occurrence and the substantial number of individuals reporting persistent symptoms for an extended period after recovering from the acute phase of COVID-19, said Dr Limaye. While COVID still remains more serious than the flu, it's essential to acknowledge that any viral illness can potentially lead to lingering symptoms, the doctor concluded.