79% of Russians who had COVID-19 experienced post-COVID syndrome after the illness, most often it manifested itself in the form of a violation of tastes and smells, Kommersant reported, citing the results of a survey by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM). The survey involved 1,600 people over 18 from 80 regions of Russia.
49% of Russians after the coronavirus had a long-term impairment in the sense of taste and smell. 38% experienced “general weakness”, 29% developed shortness of breath during exercise. 19% of the respondents developed insomnia after the illness, 17% – depression, 16% – anxiety, 7% – allergies. 22% of respondents reported other symptoms, including memory, vision, hearing loss, distraction, persistent cough and hair loss.
At the same time, 80% of those who had COVID-19 did not begin to undergo rehabilitation after illness. Of those who took care of their health, 64% took medication, 54% walked in the fresh air, 42% did breathing exercises, 41% went in for physical education, including therapeutic. 21% of the respondents passed the medical examination.
Sociologists noted that 64% of those undergoing rehabilitation consulted a doctor, 21% sought advice on the Internet, and the same number from relatives and friends. 10% of respondents received information from the media. The study says that 61% of respondents are sure that when post-COVID syndrome appears, a special examination and consultation with a doctor is needed. 19% of those surveyed believe that medications and vitamins will speed up the recovery of the body, and 11% said that the symptoms will go away on their own.
According to Alexander Gorelov, deputy director of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, post-COVID syndrome appears in almost 50% of adults, and its manifestations can persist for at least a year. Head of the Department of Therapy, Clinical Pharmacology and Emergency Medicine, MGMSU named after A.I. A. I. Evdokimova Arkady Vertkin noted that with coronavirus, metabolic processes in the body are disrupted and hypoxia develops, which affects the central nervous system, myocardium, blood vessels, kidneys and other organs.