[imagesource: Brett Pierce/CNET]

For all the talk of COVID-19’s survival rate (this varies from region to region, and the death rate following COVID-19 critical care admission is higher in Africa than in any other region in the world), there are also other factors to consider.

So-called ‘Long COVID’ is something we are constantly learning more about, and now research based on a meta-analysis of 215 COVID-19-related studies, conducted in 30 countries involving a total of 105 638 people, also point to the impact of COVID-19 on mental health.

According to Sky News, the research illustrate that it’s not just those with serious COVID-19 cases that are affected:

COVID-19 impacting mental health is “the norm” and affects the brain in a wide range of ways including fatigue and depression – especially in mild cases, according to new research.

Evidence from 215 studies also found that loss of smell, known as anosmia, was reported by 43% of patients with the disease, followed by weakness (40%), fatigue (38%), loss of taste (37%), muscle pain (25%), depression (23%), headache (21%) and anxiety (16%).

Lead author Dr Jonathan Rogers expressed surprise at how many mild case sufferers experienced neurological and psychiatric symptoms.

This review did not examine the causal mechanisms underlying the reason why mild and severe cases show such overlap, but the authors suggest it may be due to levels of inflammation found in the brain, which may explain some of the symptoms.

Here’s News Medical:

Additionally, psychosocial factors relating to the context of the global pandemic may play a role, as isolated individuals may experience increased levels of depression and anxiety.

This result was found to be more common than in other viral illnesses…

Further analysis and studies are needed to deepen our understanding of the findings, but at present, it appears clear that the mental health repercussions of even mild COVID-19 infection can be damaging for physical and mental processes beyond infection.

Yet another reason to adhere to the various measures in place to limit the spread of COVID-19, as we brace for the impact of South Africa’s third wave.

[sources:sky&newsmedical]