LONG TERM EFFECTS OF COVID-19.
                     LONG TERM EFFECTS 
OF COVID-19
Introduction
• Most people who develop coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) recover within 2–6 weeks, but some 
experience lasting symptoms. Others with severe COVID-19 may develop complications, require 
rehabilitation after a hospital stay, or both.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org/
Acute respiratory syndrome 
• Researchers have theorized that the virus responsible for COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome 
coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), may cause similar effects to other coronaviruses, such as those that cause 
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
Source: www.mayoclinic.org/
Survey Report
• According to a 2020 study, around 30% of people who 
recovered from severe SARS or MERS had long-term lung 
abnormalities. 
• A 2009 study found that 40% of people who survived SARS 
still experienced chronic fatigue about 3.5 years later, on 
average.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org/
Common signs and symptoms
• Older people and people with many serious medical 
conditions are the most likely to experience lingering 
COVID-19 symptoms. The most common signs and 
symptoms that linger over time include:
– Fatigue
– Cough
– Shortness of breath
– Headache
– Joint pain
Source: freepik
Organ damage caused by COVID-19
• Organs that may be affected by COVID-19 include:
– Heart: Imaging tests taken months after recovery 
from COVID-19 have shown lasting damage to the 
heart muscle, even in people who experienced 
only mild COVID-19 symptoms. 
– Lungs: The type of pneumonia often associated 
with COVID-19 can cause long-standing damage to 
the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. 
Source: www.mayoclinic.org/
Breathing Problem
• Organs that may be affected by COVID-19 include:
– The resulting scar tissue can lead to long-term 
breathing problems.
– Brain: Even in young people, COVID-19 can cause 
strokes, seizures and Guillain-Barre syndrome a 
condition that causes temporary paralysis. COVID-19 
may also increase the risk of developing Parkinson's 
disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org/
Blood clots and blood vessel problems
• COVID-19 can make blood cells more likely to 
clump up and form clots. While large clots can 
cause heart attacks and strokes, much of the 
heart damage caused by COVID-19 is believed to 
stem from very small clots that block tiny blood 
vessels (capillaries) in the heart muscle.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org/
Liver & Kidney Problems
• Other organs affected by blood clots include the lungs, legs, 
liver and kidneys. 
• COVID-19 can also weaken blood vessels, which contributes 
to potentially long-lasting problems with the liver and 
kidneys.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org/
Problems with mood and fatigue
• People who have severe symptoms of COVID-19 
often have to be treated in a hospital's intensive 
care unit, with mechanical assistance such as 
ventilators to breathe. 
• Simply surviving this experience can make a 
person more likely to later develop post-
traumatic stress syndrome, depression and 
anxiety.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org/
Many long-term COVID-19 effects still unknown
• Much is still unknown about how COVID-19 will 
affect people over time. However, researchers 
recommend that doctors closely monitor 
people who have had COVID-19 to see how 
their organs are functioning after recovery.
Source: Penn today