Study finds 1 in 6 hospitalised patients struggle with long-term symptoms, doctors call for urgent post-COVID care

Hyderabad residents who battled severe COVID-19 infections continue to face lingering health challenges even a year after leaving the hospital, a new study has revealed. Conducted across multiple cities, including Hyderabad, the study tracked 315 hospitalised patients and found that nearly 17% still hadn’t recovered fully a year later — a condition now referred to as long COVID.

Symptoms such as persistent fatigue, breathlessness, muscle pain, and mental fog were commonly reported. Alarmingly, one in four patients complained of more than one such symptom a year after recovery, raising concerns among families and health experts.

“I recovered from COVID in early 2023, but I haven’t been the same since,” said 58-year-old Suresh Kumar, a resident of Secunderabad. “Even now, I get tired after walking for a few minutes and often wake up with body pain. My family thinks I’m just weak, but I know something isn’t right.”

Doctors agree that the problem is more widespread than most realise. “We see several patients like Suresh who return with unexplained symptoms months after COVID,” said Dr Nirmala Rao, a pulmonologist at a private hospital in Banjara Hills. “What’s worrying is that many of them had no prior comorbidities. This isn’t just physical – anxiety, brain fog and poor sleep are becoming increasingly common.”

At the six-week mark after discharge, more than a third of the study’s participants reported new or ongoing symptoms. Though this number reduced by the 12-month mark, 26% still had multiple complaints. The study identified early signs like breathlessness, fatigue, cough and weight loss as strong predictors of long COVID.

The study also found that the impact wasn’t limited to health alone. Many participants reported facing a financial burden — from buying medicines every month to taking extended leave from work. For some, recovery didn’t just mean healing, but rebuilding their lives.

Public health experts say it’s time the long COVID crisis is taken more seriously. “We urgently need structured rehabilitation, insurance coverage, and support services for long haulers,” said Dr Meera Patel, a community health specialist. “Ignoring them will only widen the gap in our post-pandemic healthcare response.”