Heart, Lung, & Brain Risks Persist in COVID-19 Survivors

A French nationwide study reveals that individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 remain at an increased risk of death and organ-related complications for up to two and a half years post-discharge.

COVID-19 Study Overview

A large-scale study conducted in France and published in Infectious Diseases has shed light on the long-term health risks faced by individuals hospitalized due to COVID-19. The research tracked nearly 64,000 COVID survivors for up to 30 months, revealing persistent risks of death and severe organ dysfunction long after the acute infection had passed.

Lead author Dr. Sarah Tubiana from the Clinical Investigation Center at Bichat Hospital, Paris, emphasized that while much attention has been given to the immediate dangers of the virus, this study highlights its far-reaching, long-term consequences.

“These findings are a stark reminder of the extended impact of COVID-19 beyond the initial infection. Hospitalized survivors remain at higher risk of severe health complications even years later,” Tubiana stated.

Findings: Increased Risk of Mortality & Organ Dysfunction After COVID-19

Using data from the French national health database, researchers compared 63,990 hospitalized COVID-19 survivors (aged 65 on average, 53.1% male) to 319,891 individuals from the general population with similar demographics who had not been hospitalized for COVID-19.

Key findings include:

• Higher mortality rates: 5,218 deaths per 100,000 person-years in COVID-19 survivors vs. 4,013 in the control group.
• Increased hospitalizations for neurological, psychiatric, cardiovascular, and respiratory conditions.
• Persistent risk for organ-specific disorders like chronic kidney failure and diabetes, even 30 months post-hospitalization.
• Women had a higher risk of psychiatric hospitalizations compared to men.
• Higher re-hospitalization rates across all age groups, with the greatest impact seen in those over 70.

Dr. Charles Burdet from Université Paris Cité noted that while some risks declined after six months, neurological and respiratory complications, along with chronic kidney disease and diabetes, remained elevated for over two years.

Implications for Healthcare

The study’s comprehensive analysis provides critical insights into the long-term burden of COVID-19 on public health. It suggests the need for continued medical surveillance, follow-up care, and targeted interventions for survivors, particularly for those at risk of chronic conditions.

While the research is highly robust due to its use of nationwide health records, researchers caution that it may not fully apply to later COVID-19 variants, as it focuses on patients infected in early 2020 before widespread variant evolution. Future studies are needed to assess the impact of newer strains.

Conclusion

This study underscores that COVID-19 is not just an acute illness—for many, its impact lasts years beyond hospitalization. Continued research is crucial to understanding and mitigating these long-term health risks.

More Information: Long-term health outcomes following hospitalization for COVID-19: a 30- month cohort analysis, Infectious Diseases (2025). DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2025.2452862