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6d ago

COVID-19 Survivors Regain Physical Health in Three Months but Face Prolonged Mental Recovery

Experts warn that about one in five people report poor overall health-related quality of life a year after infection

This colorized electron microscope image from the National Institutes of Health shows the SARS-CoV-2 virus, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells. A new study from UCLA researchers revealed a significant gap between physical and mental recovery from COVID-19.
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Overview

  • The CDC-funded INSPIRE study followed more than 1,400 individuals with COVID-like symptoms, roughly 75% of whom tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between December 2020 and August 2022.
  • Most participants recovered optimal physical health within three months, whereas mental well-being improvements were more gradual and peaked between six and nine months.
  • Approximately one in five study subjects continued to experience poor overall health-related quality of life up to 12 months after their illness, reflecting persistent long COVID impacts.
  • COVID-positive participants were statistically more likely than COVID-negative peers to achieve optimal health-related quality of life, a disparity researchers suggest may stem from undiagnosed conditions or false-negative tests.
  • Study authors recommend expanding mental health services and developing targeted care models to address enduring psychological and cognitive challenges post-infection.