Covid-19 may increase the chance of developing persistent “long-haul" symptoms. Notably, preinfection psychological distress was associated with a higher risk of post-Covid conditions, researchers at the Harvard T.H.
Chan School of Medicine in Boston said, according to Bloomberg report. Interestingly, their study, which tracked some 55,000 people over 19 months, found the link increased in a dose-dependent manner and said that those who experienced two or more types of distress before their infection had almost a 50% greater risk of self-reported impairment lasting four weeks or more.
The study notes that lingering symptoms, spanning chronic fatigue and “brain fog" to hair loss and shortness of breath, are estimated to afflict some 10% to 20% of Covid survivors.
No one knows yet what causes them, though obesity, female sex, hypertension and a weakened immune system are among purported risk factors.