Assessment of residual effects and consequences of COVID-19 in elderly and senile people in Shymkent

The first cases of COVID-19 in Kazakhstan began to be registered in March 2020. and by mid-July, according to official data, almost 60 thousand cases were already registered, including 373 fatal (0.6%). Understanding the true burden of the disease is important for strengthening the public health system and timely correction of quarantine and mitigation measures in the modern world. The name of the COVID-19 infection appeared due to the English-language abbreviation left-pointing-double-angle Coronavirus Disease 2019 right-pointing-double-angle . Most of the patients with COVID-19 fully recover. However, some of them have residual phenomena-shortness of breath with light physical exertion, a slight cough, pain and discomfort in the shoulder blades, deterioration of heart function, lack of smell and taste, decreased vision, increased fatigue, insomnia, menstrual cycle disorders, hair loss, depression. Residual phenomena significantly reduce the quality of life of patients, especially in elderly and senile people who have had COVID-19, preventing them from leading a previous lifestyle, impairing their performance and ability to withstand psychoemotional loads. This article evaluates the residual effects and consequences of COVID-19 in elderly and senile people in Shymkent.

Features of residual phenomena and consequences of COVID-19

A literature review on the features of residual phenomena and consequences of COVID-19 is analyzed on the basis of data published so far. By the beginning of January 2021, COVID-19, accompanied by severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), led to more than 83 million confirmed cases and more than 1.8 million deaths. The clinical spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 infection is wide, including asymptomatic infection, fever, fatigue, myalgia, mild upper respiratory tract disease, severe and life-threatening viral pneumonia requiring hospitalization, and death. COVID-19 is a new disease, and uncertainty remains about possible long-term health consequences. To date, it is known that the majority of infected people, especially at a young age, have a mild course of the disease, compared with older people. In some patients, the disease progresses rapidly and various complications develop, including multiple organ failure. Therefore, early detection and timely treatment of critical cases is crucial.