Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 Face Higher Long-Term Risk for Death, Rehospitalization

FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Individuals previously hospitalized for COVID-19 have an increased risk for subsequent death or hospitalization for various organ disorders up to 30 months after discharge, according to a study published online Feb. 28 in Infectious Diseases.

Sarah Tubiana, Pharm.D., from Université Paris Cité, and colleagues used French claims data to compare all-cause mortality and organ disorder-related hospitalization among 63,990 individuals hospitalized for COVID-19 between Jan. 1 and Aug. 30, 2020, versus 319,891 controls from the general population not hospitalized for COVID-19.

During 30 months of follow-up, the researchers found that the weighted cumulative incidences of all-cause mortality and hospitalization were 5,218 per 10⁵ person-years (PY) and 16,334 per 10⁵ PY, respectively, among those with COVID-19 hospitalization compared with 4,013 and 12,095 per 10⁵ PY, respectively, among controls. Individuals hospitalized for COVID-19 were more likely to be subsequently hospitalized for cardiovascular, psychiatric, neurological, and respiratory events (incidence rate ratios, 1.22, 1.41, 1.50, and 1.99, respectively). While the excess risk strongly decreased after the first six months for all outcomes, risk remained significantly increased up to 30 months for neurological disorders, respiratory disorders, chronic renal failure, and diabetes.

“While much attention has been given to the immediate dangers of the virus, our research shows that hospitalized COVID-19 survivors remain at greater risks of severe health complications months and even years later,” Tubiana said in a statement. “The long-term implications for public health are significant.”

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