PEOPLE with Covid-19 continue to face an increased risk of developing neurological psychiatric conditions, such as dementia, according to new research.
There is also an increased risk of anxiety and depression in adults, but this subsides within two months of infection and, over two years, is no more likely than after other respiratory infections.
The study of some 1.25 million people diagnosed with coronavirus found children were more likely to be diagnosed with certain conditions, including seizures and psychotic disorders.
However, the likelihood of most diagnoses after Covid was lower than in adults.
According to the research, the delta variant of the virus was associated with more disorders than the alpha whilst omicron was linked with similar neurological and psychiatric risks as delta.
Those involved in the study are calling for more support and resources for healthcare providers in diagnosing and managing these conditions.
Lead author of the study Professor Paul Harrison from the University of Oxford said: “In addition to confirming previous findings that Covid-19 can increase the risk for some neurological and psychiatric conditions in the first six months after infection, this study suggests that some of these increased risks can last for at least two years.
“In addition to confirming previous findings that Covid-19 can increase the risk for some neurological and psychiatric conditions in the first six months after infection, this study suggests that some of these increased risks can last for at least two years.
“The results have important implications for patients and health services as it suggests new cases of neurological conditions linked to Covid-19 infection are likely to occur for a considerable time after the pandemic has subsided.
“Our work also highlights the need for more research to understand why this happens after Covid-19, and what can be done to prevent or treat these conditions.”
The study analysed data on 14 neurological and psychiatric diagnoses gathered from electronic health records mostly from the US over a two-year period.
It found that the chances of receiving a depression or anxiety diagnosis initially increased after infection.
However, it returned to the same as other respiratory infections after a relatively short time.
For depression it was 43 days and for anxiety it was 58 days.
After two years, there was no difference in the overall incidence of depression and anxiety between the Covid group and the other respiratory infections group.
However, the risk of diagnosis of some other neurological and mental health conditions was still higher after coronavirus than for other respiratory infections at the end of the two-year follow-up.
Adults aged 18-64 who had contracted Covid up to two years previously had a higher risk of brain fog and muscle disease compared to those who had other respiratory infections up to two years previously.
The research also showed a higher occurrence of brain fog (1540 cases per 10,000 people), dementia (450 cases per 10,000 people) and a psychotic disorder (85 cases per 10,000 people) in adults aged 65 and over who had Covid up to two years previously compared to those who previously had a different respiratory infection.
Harrison said that whilst the numbers are not trivial, they are not huge and should be set against the increasing burden of mental health issues which have occurred in the whole population as a result of the pandemic.
