- Covid and flu similarities
- Increased mortality risk
- Vaccination crucial for prevention
Covid and influenza may share similar long-term symptoms, according to one study.
Patients admitted to the hospital with seasonal flu or Covid exhibited an increased mortality risk during the subsequent 18 months.
Those with respiratory problems faced a higher risk of hospital readmission, the most prevalent condition.
It highlights the significance of annual vaccinations, especially for the elderly and most vulnerable, according to experts.
Insights from the COVID-19 pandemic prompted scientists at Washington University School of Medicine to examine the long-term effects of COVID-19 along with influenza.
Over ninety thousand patient records were analyzed to compare risks up to eighteen months after infection with either virus.
According to Lancet research, both illnesses had the highest risk 30 days after infection.
While Covid posed a higher risk of health complications than seasonal influenza, both viruses posed substantial threats of illness and disability.
Sixty-eight percent of health conditions examined were associated with an increased risk for COVID-19 patients, compared to six percent for influenza, primarily affecting the respiratory system.
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Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University, stated, “Many individuals discharged from the hospital believe they’ve recovered from Covid or the flu.”
That might be the case for specific individuals. We find, however, that both pathogens can cause chronic illness.
He added, “Vaccinations can reduce the risk of hospitalizations and fatalities and prevent severe disease associated with both Covid and seasonal influenza.”
Ensuring optimal vaccination uptake must remain paramount for health systems and administrations worldwide, especially for immunocompromised and vulnerable elderly individuals.