A recent study led by Peng Zhiyong, director at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University’s Intenstive Care Unit, shows that 90% of recovered COVID-19 patients suffer from lung damage. Follow up visits on 100 recovered patients have been continuing by the team since April.
It was according to the first phase results of the study when it was discovered that lungs of 90% of the patients have been affected. The team also did a 6-minutes walking test with the patients in which it was found that they could only cover 400 meters in six minutes but at the same time their healthy counterparts could walk 500 meters. The first phase study finished in July with the average age of the patients studied being 59.
Liang Tengxiao, another doctor from the Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, also did follow-up visits with recovered patients of above 65 years of age. It was found that some patients happen to rely on oxygen machines even after three months of recovery. The most startling result is the one in which antibodies against coronavirus have disappeared in almost 10 % of the patients.
It was also seen that these people had to go through depression and social stigma. Eating together with recovered patients is kind of less encouraged now. Only few have returned back to work also.
All these findings happen to hold importance as the coronavirus first emerged in the Wuhan city. Total 84,565 cases and 4634 deaths have been reported in China so far.