According to a newly released study by a network of hospitals affiliated with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 6.5 per cent of patients hospitalised with moderate to severe Covid-19 infections died within a year of being released from the hospital. The study concentrated on a group of 14,419 patients from 31 hospitals who were called and followed up over the course of a year.
The study also found that people who experienced post-Covid problems after being released from the hospital had a roughly threefold increased risk of dying within the subsequent year compared to people who did not report such symptoms. 17.1 per cent of the hospitalised patients had post-Covid symptoms, which were characterised by ongoing or recent dyspnea, mental fog, chronic exhaustion, and cognitive impairments.
Notably, the study found that men, people over 60, and people with comorbid diseases had a higher probability of dying after leaving the hospital. Additionally, the study revealed a 40 per cent lower risk of death among those who had received the vaccine, demonstrating the beneficial effect of at least one vaccine dosage on long-term mortality.
According to a top scientist affiliated with ICMR, the 6.5 per cent fatality rate only applies to people hospitalised with moderate to severe Covid-19 instances and cannot be extrapolated to milder cases or people who did not need to be admitted.
The study also considered potential causes of demise in the year following Covid-19 infection, taking into account elements including protracted inflammation, viral-caused organ damage, and endothelial dysfunction.
The results of the study highlight the significance of monitoring and comprehending the possible long-term consequences of the virus, particularly among people with comorbidities and chronic post-Covid symptoms, as new Covid-19 variations continue to arise.