More than half of patients diagnosed with coronavirus exhibit general weakness and respiratory distress even several weeks after recovery, according to a new study by the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. The study, conducted by the hospital’s pulmonary institute and based on preliminary data obtained from dozens of patients who suffered from COVID-19, found that more than 50% of patients showed symptoms of respiratory distress if they had a mild, moderate, or severe case of the illness. “Within the symptoms we verified, we revealed general weakness among most patients along with shortness of breath, sustained cough and other complex respiratory and lung problems,” said Professor Gabriel Izbicki, director of the institute. “Most of the patients have not returned to the level and the way they were before their hospitalization.” However, he noted that these results should be considered preliminary. “This is a study of only a few dozen patients,” Izbicki said. The Jerusalem Post. “It is very scary and that is why we published it. But we are looking to have a few hundred patients and then we will see if our research is confirmed or not. ” He added that the goal of the research is to better tailor hospital treatment programs to better address these symptoms and obtain information that could “help the entire coronavirus community worldwide.” He noted that there is little information on the medium and long-term effects of the virus to date and that most members of the scientific and medical papers are working on treatments for patients in the acute phase of the disease or developing a vaccine.
This study is unique, Izbicki said, since the center’s special outpatient clinic is evaluating coronavirus patients recovered at three months and also plans to reevaluate them six months after recovery. “We welcome any Israel-based COVID-19 patients who have been treated and discharged from a hospital or” coronavirus hotel “to participate in the study,” Izbicki said. “The earlier in their post-treatment, the better so that we can better analyze these symptoms for the improvement of future patients.” Recovered coronavirus patients can call 02-655-5999 to sign up to participate in the study.
