Of the seriously ill corona patients who were admitted to hospital, 92 percent still have complaints a year later. This is according to new research. “This is the tip of the iceberg”, aftercare organization C-support from Den Bosch knows.
According to the researchers, the long-term effects of the pandemic are still underestimated. According to researchers from the Erasmus MC hospital in Rotterdam, among others, patients mainly suffer from:
- pain,
- shortness of breath,
- severe fatigue,
- problems with their memory or concentration.
“This does not surprise us. The problem is much bigger”, says director of C-support Annemieke de Groot. This study only concerns people who have been in hospital. 17,000 patients have already reported to the organization, including more than 3,200 people from Brabant. “These are mainly people who have been sick at home.” In addition, many people do not report or report very late.
“I can no longer make a bed or climb stairs.”
“I am always short of breath. I can no longer make a bed or climb stairs,” says lung covid patient Nelma Lankhaar (59) from Meeuwen. In November 2020 she contracted corona for the second time. She was admitted to the corona department of the Jeroen Bosch Hospital. She got double pneumonia.
“I tire very quickly and suffer from stimuli quickly.” She still has pain in her midriff. “I can’t vacuum any more. I also have a bicycle with pedal assistance, otherwise I won’t make any progress.”
Nelma has a job in home care, but is still unable to work after a year and a half. “It’s very frustrating that you can’t do anything. I want to get started.”
C-support again advocates the arrival of a special clinic for people with long-term corona patients. “They are sent from pillar to post. On average, patients see seven healthcare providers. It is important to join forces,” says De Groot. She has ‘promising talks’ about this with the minister.
“You don’t look sick. You get a lot of misunderstanding.”
Nelma also recognizes the struggle. “A neurologist, psychologist, internist, company doctor”, it is only a part of the doctors that Nelma lists. She also says that there is still a lot of ignorance. “You don’t look sick. You get a lot of misunderstanding.”
The study examined data from 492 people who were admitted to the Rijnmond region at the start of the pandemic. According to the scientists, too little is known about the causes of long-term covid. They therefore call for more research. After a mild infection, about 1 in 8 people have long-term complaints, according to previous research.
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