A new Israeli study released on Tuesday shows that 95 percent of recovered patients with COVID-19 do not suffer from irreversible respiratory or heart damage, helping to answer one of the key questions about the disease that has infected more than 100 million people worldwide.
A study of 166 recovered patients with COVID-19, conducted by Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center, found that 94 percent continued to report symptoms even after three months, particularly shortness of breath, although most symptoms disappeared within six months.
“We can cautiously report that based on our study, most of the symptoms passed in a period of three to six months,” said Professor Gabriel Izbicki, director of the Shaare Zedek Pulmonary Institute.
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“Almost all of the patients we studied after six months recorded a significant improvement in overall condition, and the results of the study reflected that. We found that regular fitness activities three to four times a week directly contributed to the patient recovering so much faster, ”he said.
Illustrative: Shaare Zedek medical team member receives coronavirus patient in Jerusalem, April 16, 2020 (Nati Shohat / Flash90)
The data showed that three months after recovery, the most common persistent symptom was shortness of breath, found in 57% of patients.
In addition, 55% of patients reported total weakness, 25% reported persistent cough, and 18% reported chest pain. Another 11% still complained of loss of taste and smell, while 8% had neurological symptoms such as dizziness or limb weakness.
The study, which has not yet been reviewed, included patients aged 18 to 86 in a mild, moderate and severe condition.
