At two years after Covid, there’s a persistent and considerable burden of symptoms and multi-system organ involvement in an important subgroup of people. The study reviewed in this article focuses on the 2-year follow-up of over 100,000 people with Covid and millions of uninfected controls. The findings highlight the uncertainties and gaps in our knowledge base for Long Covid, which continues to impact the lives of millions of people. The study reveals that both hospitalized and non-hospitalized individuals with Covid experience adverse sequelae, with worse outcomes observed in the hospitalized group. The most significant outcomes include death and hospitalization, which remain elevated in the hospitalized group. The study also emphasizes the need for prolonged follow-up to understand the long-term effects of Covid, including the potential for autoimmune diseases and atherosclerosis. Overall, the findings underscore the urgent need for effective treatments for Long Covid.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-year follow-up on people with Covid | Understanding Long Covid outcomes | Improved understanding of Long Covid outcomes | Research on Long Covid |
| Study on adverse outcomes at the 2-year mark | Severity and persistence of sequelae | Increased awareness and management of sequelae in Covid survivors | Desire to improve outcomes for survivors |
| Increased mortality rate among Covid patients | Higher mortality rate in Covid cases | Improved strategies for preventing and treating severe Covid cases | Need to reduce Covid-related deaths |
| Persistence of symptoms and organ involvement | Long-term burden of symptoms | Continued burden of symptoms and organ involvement in some individuals | Need for effective treatment strategies |
| Unknown long-term effects of Covid | Unforeseen delayed adverse outcomes | Increased understanding of long-term effects of Covid | Need for long-term follow-up and research |