Prevalence of post-Covid complications up to 4 times higher in women

The prevalence of developing post-Covid complications was found to be 1.5 to 4 times higher in females than in males, according to a study.

The study also found that Covid-19 survivors above 60 years old face more long-term complications than those aged less than 40.

The research was jointly conducted by researchers at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease and Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b).

Asked why females are more vulnerable to post-Covid complications, Nasmul Hasan, associate professor of internal medicine at BSMMU, said, "We have not investigated the reasons. However, it may be that females usually have lower immunity and less access to treatment than males in our country."

The study also found that patients who needed to be hospitalised when they contracted the novel coronavirus were two-three time more likely to develop long-term complications than those who were not hospitalised.

The new occurrence of diabetes was 10 cases per 1,000 persons among hospitalised patients, compared to none in the non-hospitalised group.

Similarly, the new occurrence of renal impairment and increased liver enzyme were considerably high among Covid-19 survivors.

The study, titled "Long-Term Sequelae of COVID-19: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study in Dhaka, Bangladesh" was shared at a seminar at the BSMMU today.

Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, executive director of icddr,b, stressed the importance of the study and said, "The findings bear immense importance in understanding the long-term effects of COVID-19 and address significant questions pertaining to prolonged complications associated with it. However, it will only be beneficial if patients who have been hospitalised due to Covid-19 maintain regular monitoring of complications and address them accordingly."

A guideline titled "Long COVID Clinical Management Guideline for Physicians" was also launched at the seminar.

The findings, based on the first five months of participant follow-ups, were recently published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia.

BSMMU Vice Chancellor Prof Sharfuddin Ahmed, icddr,b Executive Director Dr Tahmeed Ahmed and researchers from both institutions attended the event among others.