One in 2 hospitalized COVID-19 patients develop at least one other complication, according to research published July 15 in The Lancet.
The study included more than 73,000 adult COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized in the U.K. between Jan. 17 and Aug. 4, 2020. The average age of patients in the study cohort was 71.1. Fifty-six percent were men and 81 percent had at least one comorbidity.
Overall, 48.1 percent had at least one complication.
Four more findings:
1. The most common complications were renal (24.3 percent), complex respiratory (18.4 percent), and systemic complications (16.3 percent).
2. About 12 percent of patients developed a cardiovascular complication, 10.8 percent had a gastrointestinal or liver problem and 4.3 percent experienced a neurological complication.
3. Such complications were most common among men and those aged 60 and older.
4. However, researchers found a significant risk across age groups. Among patients in the 19-29 age group, about 27 percent developed a complication. For those aged 30-39, about 37 percent developed another complication.
"Complications and worse functional outcomes in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are high, even in young, previously healthy individuals," researchers said. "COVID-19 complications are likely to cause a substantial strain on health and social care in the coming years."
To view the full findings, click here.