Can you die from prolonged COVID? The answer just isn’t that straightforward.

Nearly five years after the pandemic, COVID feels less central to our every day lives.

But the virus, SARS-CoV-2, continues to be around, and the results of the infection could be long-lasting for many individuals. It is often diagnosed when symptoms persist for greater than three months after the initial COVID infection. Prolonged COVID.

In September, the Grammy Award-winning Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes He reportedly died on the age of 83 after an extended illness.

Australian data From the beginning of the pandemic to the top of July 2023, there have been 196 deaths as a consequence of long-term effects of COVID.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 3,544. Long-term COVID-related deaths From the start of the pandemic to the top of June 2022.

Symptoms of Prolonged COVID – corresponding to fatigue, shortness of breath and “brain fog” – could be debilitating. But are you able to die from prolonged COVID? The answer just isn’t that straightforward.

How can prolonged COVID cause death?

There's still lots we don't understand about what causes prolonged COVID. A preferred theory is that “zombie” Virus fragments Can linger within the body and cause inflammation even after the virus is gone, resulting in long-term health problems. A body of recent research suggests SARS-CoV-2 protein Blood may explain why some people experience persistent symptoms.

We know that a serious COVID infection can hurt. Multiple organs. For example, could cause severe COVID. Permanent lung impairmentChronic inflammation of the center, nerve damage and long-term kidney disease.

These problems can result in death in some cases, either immediately or after months or years. But are any of those deaths outside of the acute phase of infection, a direct results of COVID, prolonged COVID, or something else? Whether long-term COVID could cause death is a matter of debate.

Of 3,544 deaths As of June 2022 within the U.S., essentially the most commonly recorded underlying cause related to prolonged COVID was COVID itself (67.5%). This could mean that they died because of this of one in all the long-term effects of the COVID infection, as mentioned above.

COVID infection was followed by heart disease (8.6%), cancer (2.9%), Alzheimer's disease (2.7%), lung disease (2.5%), diabetes (2%) and stroke (1.8%). Adults aged 75–84 years had the best mortality rate related to prolonged COVID (28.8%).

These findings suggest that a lot of these people died with prolonged COVID moderately than the condition itself. In other words, prolonged COVID will not be a direct driver of death, but moderately a contributor, possibly exacerbating existing conditions.

'Cause of death' is difficult to define.

Chronic COVID is a comparatively recent phenomenon, so mortality data for individuals with the condition is restricted.

However, we will gain some insight from the experiences of individuals with post-viral conditions which were studied for a very long time, corresponding to myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Like prolonged COVID, ME/CFS is a fancy condition that may have significant and varied effects on an individual's physical well-being, dietary status, social engagement, mental health and quality of life.

Some research suggests that individuals with ME/CFS are Increased risk Death from causes including heart disease, infection and suicide, which could also be triggered or exacerbated by the debilitating nature of the syndrome.

So what’s the emerging data on prolonged COVID telling us a couple of possible increased risk of death?

A 2023 study suggested that adults within the US had been with COVID longer. High risk Development of heart disease, stroke, lung disease and asthma.

Research has also came upon. Prolonged COVID is related to the next risk of Suicidal ideation (Thinking or planning suicide). This may reflect common symptoms and consequences of prolonged COVID corresponding to sleep problems, fatigue, chronic pain and emotional distress.

But prolonged COVID is more prone to occur in individuals who have Current health conditions. This makes it difficult to accurately determine how much COVID contributes to an individual's death.

Research has long revealed that Reliability issues In reporting the explanation for death, especially for individuals with chronic illness.

So what can we conclude?

Ultimately, the long COVID is one. Chronic condition which may significantly affect quality of life, mental well-being and overall health.

Although prolonged covid just isn’t often immediately or directly fatal, it is feasible that it may worsen existing conditions, and thus contribute to an individual's death.

Importantly, many individuals with chronic COVID-19 around the globe lack access to adequate support. We must develop. Models of care For optimal management of individuals with prolonged COVID with a give attention to multidisciplinary care.