"91% of Domestic COVID-19 Recoverees Experience Aftereffects... Fatigue and Decreased Concentration Lead" (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] A survey revealed that 91.1% of domestic patients who have recovered from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) suffer from one or more aftereffects.

On the 29th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated at a regular briefing, "Through research funding from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's National Institute of Health, investigations on mid- to long-term complications of COVID-19 are underway at Kyungpook National University Hospital in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region, where many cases occurred, the National Medical Center, and the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases," adding, "The research conducted online will soon be published as a paper."

According to an online survey conducted by the infectious diseases department team led by Professor Kim Shin-woo at Kyungpook National University Hospital, 9 out of 10 COVID-19 recovered patients reported having one or more aftereffects. Out of a total of 5,762 subjects, 965 (16.7%) participated in the online survey, and among them, 879 (91.1%) responded that they experienced aftereffects.

The most common aftereffect was fatigue (26.2%), followed by decreased concentration (24.6%). Additionally, there were cases reporting psychological and mental aftereffects as well as loss of smell and taste.

Deputy Director Kwon said, "The National Medical Center will conduct long-term monitoring of about 30 patients by extending the period and adding clinical and analytical components," and added, "Next year, we plan to confirm complications through computed tomography (CT) scans and analyses of the lungs of COVID-19 recovered patients, and we will collect blood samples individually for detailed analysis."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.