Close to 85% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 said that they were not back to their pre-COVID lifestyle 1 month later, says the study.
Even a short stay in the hospital with a COVID-19 infection can adversely affect the long-term health and financial stability of patients, according to a study by investigators at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Results from the study were published in The Journal of Hospital Medicine.
“This isn’t patients saying, ‘I can’t run quite as far as I used to’. This is them saying ‘I can’t walk, I can’t cook, I can’t shower’. The effects are devastating,” C. Terri Hough, a co-lead author on the study said. “Unfortunately, we saw this even among patients with quite short hospital stays.”
For the study, the team of investigators enrolled 1300 patients at 44 major medical centers in the Prevention and Early Treatment of Acute Lung Injury (PETAL) Network. The analysis presented in this study included 253 patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19.
The study period lasted from the fall 2020 through the early part of 2021.
Findings from the study showed that close to 85% of people that were hospitalized with COVID-19 said that they were not back to their pre-COVID lifestyle 1 month later. Many of the participants had new or worse cardiopulmonary symptoms, along with other significant factors which may be driving their inability to fully recover.
Financial impact was also widespread, with 23% of the participants reporting using up their life savings. Additional findings showed that almost half of the patients who were surveyed during the study period reported a new disability that prevented them from taking part in daily living activities 1 month later.
“As we continue, we’re excited that this study will link the biology of initial hospitalizations for COVID-19 to long-term patient-centered outcomes, and thereby help us find treatments to decrease the burden of recovery from COVID-19,” Hough said. “There are few other national studies that have both details about the hospital stay and are continuing to ask for patient perspectives like we are.”
This article originally appeared inContagion®.
From the Derby to the Decontam Room: Leadership Lessons for Sterile Processing
April 27th 2025Elizabeth (Betty) Casey, MSN, RN, CNOR, CRCST, CHL, is the SVP of Operations and Chief Nursing Officer at Surgical Solutions in Overland, Kansas. This SPD leader reframes preparation, unpredictability, and teamwork by comparing surgical services to the Kentucky Derby to reenergize sterile processing professionals and inspire systemic change.
Show, Tell, Teach: Elevating EVS Training Through Cognitive Science and Performance Coaching
April 25th 2025Training EVS workers for hygiene excellence demands more than manuals—it requires active engagement, motor skills coaching, and teach-back techniques to reduce HAIs and improve patient outcomes.
The Rise of Disposable Products in Health Care Cleaning and Linens
April 25th 2025Health care-associated infections are driving a shift toward disposable microfiber cloths, mop pads, and curtains—offering infection prevention, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency in one-time-use solutions.
Phage Therapy’s Future: Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance With Precision Viruses
April 24th 2025Bacteriophage therapy presents a promising alternative to antibiotics, especially as antimicrobial resistance continues to increase. Dr. Ran Nir-Paz discusses its potential, challenges, and future applications in this technology.