New research reveals that mental health recovery after COVID-like illness takes nearly three times longer than physical recovery, highlighting the urgent need for targeted care strategies for long COVID patients.
The study, published online in Infectious Diseases Open Forum, analyzed data from December 2020 to August 2022. It found that while physical health typically improves within three months of symptom onset, mental health and well-being may require up to nine months to reach similar recovery levels.
Furthermore, nearly 20% of patients reported a decline in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) one year after experiencing COVID-like symptoms, indicating persistent long-term effects. Researchers emphasize that healthcare providers should maintain focus on patients’ mental health throughout recovery and adapt treatment plans accordingly.
The study included 733 COVID-positive and 734 COVID-negative adults, representing diverse age groups, genders, and races. Using latent transition analysis, researchers categorized patients into four HRQOL groups—best HRQOL, poor mental HRQOL, poor physical HRQOL, and poor overall HRQOL—based on assessments of cognitive function, physical function, social participation, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and pain interference.
At baseline, 73% of participants were in the poorer HRQOL categories, with 58% remaining there after three months. Psychological recovery became more apparent between six and nine months. Overall, only 1.4% to 5.2% of patients improved from poor to best HRQOL after 12 months.
Dr. Lauren Wisk, co-lead author from UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, stated: “This study underscores the difference between mental and physical health recovery following COVID infection. Medical professionals need to increase attention and resources dedicated to improving patients’ mental as well as physical health.”
The findings suggest that classification and treatment of post-COVID conditions require improvement to address the complex needs of recovering patients, particularly regarding mental health support.
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