Understanding the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19

⚕️Persistent symptoms of COVID-19 can last 12 weeks or more, impacting patients' quality of life.

🫁Lung damage and fibrosis may occur in patients who experienced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

❤️Cardiovascular symptoms, such as myocarditis and pericarditis, can be evaluated through ECGs and echocardiograms.

🔬Pulmonary function tests measure lung capacity and diffusion capacity, providing insights into lung health.

🚶‍♀️The six-minute walk test can assess patients' functional capacity and monitor their progress over time.

How long do persistent COVID-19 symptoms last?

—Persistent COVID-19 symptoms typically last 12 weeks or more after the initial infection.

What are common long-term effects of COVID-19?

—Common long-term effects of COVID-19 include fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, and cardiovascular issues.

How can cardiovascular symptoms be evaluated?

—Cardiovascular symptoms can be evaluated through ECGs (electrocardiograms) and echocardiograms.

What can pulmonary function tests measure?

—Pulmonary function tests can measure lung capacity and diffusion capacity, providing insights into lung health.

What is the six-minute walk test?

—The six-minute walk test assesses patients' functional capacity by measuring how far they can walk in six minutes.

00:02This video discusses the long-term effects of COVID-19, which have been a concern since the pandemic began.

01:27Persistent symptoms of COVID-19 can last 12 weeks or more and are defined as symptoms that persist after the initial infection.

07:20ECGs and echocardiograms are recommended for evaluating cardiovascular symptoms in patients with persistent COVID-19 symptoms.

09:07Pulmonary function tests can assess lung damage caused by COVID-19, including fibrosis and decreased lung capacity.

13:26The six-minute walk test can provide insights into patients' functional capacity and monitor their progress over time.