Long Covid patients are experiencing high levels of mental health problems, two new Irish studies indicate.
Psychological and psychiatric problems such as anxiety and depression are much more prevalent in long Covid patients than in the general public, the studies of patients attending clinics in Dublin found.
One in five participants in the study (18.3 per cent) had moderate to severe signs of depression for at least a year, researchers found.
Meanwhile, the number of Covid-19 patients in hospital and ICU continues to rise. There were 271 patients with the virus in hospital on Tuesday morning, up 15 on the previous day and an increase of 62 per cent since May 28th. The number in ICU also increased to 26, from 23 the previous day.
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In a further sign of rising levels of infection, the positivity rate for PCR tests increased again on Tuesday to 19 per cent, from 18 per cent the previous day.
In the studies, 13 per cent of patients had moderate to severe anxiety, while 21 per cent had findings consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the study of attendees at the Mater hospital’s long Covid clinic.
Some 72 per cent of participants had concerning alcohol use one year after their illness, it was also found.
The studies, published by the International Journal of Infectious Diseases and the Health Research Board, point to the longer-term complications from infection being primarily brain-related, and not heart and lung conditions, as previously thought, the authors say.
Patients with no previous history of depression or anxiety prior to their Covid-19 infection are now presenting to the clinic with neurological conditions.
“While during the first wave of Covid-19 it was anticipated that the enduring complications of the infection would be primarily cardiac and pulmonary, our research has clearly indicated this is not the case,” said Prof Jack Lambert, infectious diseases consultant at the Mater. “Within just six months of commencing the study, it was evident that the long-term problems our patients are facing are neurological and neuropsychiatric.”
The studies raise significant concerns about the ongoing psychiatric symptoms and high levels of alcohol use among long Covid populations, according to co-author psychiatrist Prof Brendan Kelly. “Clinical depression, anxiety and PTSD are serious debilitating illnesses, and they have also been seen more frequently among participants who had been hospitalised for acute Covid-19 or in those who had experienced lengthy ICU stays.”
“More broadly, patients in this study with any symptoms at one year had significant impacts on their physical health and had reduced quality of life. It is important that these individuals are supported throughout the country and that clinicians and policymakers are mindful of these findings.”
A quarter of all patients presenting at the Covid-19 follow-up clinic in the Mater were still suffering from symptoms a year after their initial infection.
Almost half (43 per cent) of long Covid patients still experienced considerable fatigue at the 12-month mark, with a third identifying difficulties concentrating and “brain fog”.
Prof Lambert called for further support to be rolled out throughout Ireland. “There needs to be support for GPs in all regions of Ireland, in terms of training guidance and resourcing, to work in partnership with the long Covid clinics so that all those who need it can access appropriate care.”
