Mental Health Toll Of Half Covid In-Patients

More than half of people hospitalised with Covid develop cognitive and mental health problems.

- Mark Waghorn

Symptoms range from loss of memory and impaired sight to anxiety and depression. One in five was left with PTSD – posttraumatic stress disorder.

Worryingly, three-quarters of younger patients are affected, which could impact careers, researchers found.

Professor Massimo Filippi, of the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Italy, said problems persist several months after apparent recovery.

Apart from PTSD, a sixth had “the blues” within eight weeks of being discharged.

The research adds to growing evidence that long-term effects on the brain are common complications.

Prof Filippi said: “A particularly alarming finding is the changes to ‘executive function’ we found, which can make it difficult for people to concentrate, plan, think flexibly and remember things.

Shock

“These symptoms affected three in four younger patients who were of a working age.”