New Delhi, Aug 16 (UNI) The long-term consequences of Covid-19 continue to pose significant public health challenges well beyond the acute phase of illness with at least nearly 80 per cent developing post-Covid syndrome (PCoVs) while 73 per cent experiencing persistent symptoms beyond 35 days post-infection, according to a news study conducted by government doctors in the national capital.
The researchers have called for early rehabilitative interventions targeting vulnerable groups, including females and patients with comorbidities, to mitigate long-term Quality of Life (QoL) impairment. They have also pitched for the establishment of multidisciplinary post-Covid care clinics and patient-centric management strategies.
While baseline quality of life (QoL) scores showed no significant differences between those with and without PCoVS, a six-month follow-up revealed that individuals suffering from PCoVS had significantly lower QoL across all domains — physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships, and environmental factors, said the study titled “Quality of Life Post-COVID Recovery: A Prospective Observational Study, North India.”
It said that 79.6% of participants developed post-Covid syndrome (PCoVS), with 72.7% reporting persistent symptoms beyond 35 days of post-infection.
Persistent symptoms — commonly termed post-Covid condition or long Covid — have been shown to substantially affect patients’ physical, psychological, social, and occupational functioning months after recovery, leading to increased healthcare demand, reduced productivity, and diminished quality of life (QoL), said the study by the Delhi-based Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC).
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises post-Covid condition as a critical health concern necessitating ongoing surveillance and rehabilitation. This prospective study, utilising the WHO-QoL BREF scale, evaluated domain-specific quality of life among 369 individuals recovered from Covid-19 in North India over a six-month follow-up period covering 11 districts of Delhi.
Participants without PCoVS recorded better physical and psychological health, social relationships, and environmental health, underscoring the lasting impact of long Covid on well-being.
Notably, said the study authors Dr Amod Laxmikant Borle, Dr Mongjam Meghachandra Singh, Dr Gurmeet Singh, Dr Nidhi Bhatnagar, Dr Shivani Rao, Dr Tanya Singh, Dr Binita Goswami, Dr Sarika Singh, Dr Sumeet Singla, all from MAMC and Dr Tanu Anand from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Delhi, social domain was most affected, reflecting pandemic-related social disruption and stigma associated with Covid-19 infection.
The study is published in the latest issue of prestigious journal, Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR).
Age also played a critical role. Individuals above 61 years recorded markedly lower physical health scores compared to younger adults, likely due to the accumulation of health challenges with age.
Similar trends were observed concerning educational attainment and presence of comorbidities, with illiterate participants and those with underlying conditions reporting poorer physical and psychological well-being.
The study further highlighted that younger participants aged between 18 and 30 years scored better in psychological domains, possibly due to stronger social interactions and more optimistic outlooks, whereas older groups faced greater mental health challenges.
While stressing the need for early rehabilitative interventions targeting vulnerable groups, including females and patients with comorbidities, to mitigate long-term QoL impairment, the authors have advocated for the establishment of multidisciplinary post-Covid care clinics and patient-centric management strategies.
Future research with larger, diverse cohorts and integration of objective health assessments is essential for better understanding of Covid-19’s lasting impact and to guide public health policies effectively, said the researchers.
