COVID-19 patients may be at higher risk for these diseases, a new study finds

Over the months and years, researchers uncover more and more risk factors for COVID-19. A new study shows that patients with the condition are at greater risk of developing a variety of mental health problems.

The study, published in The BMJ journal, showed that the pandemic had an additional impact on mental health, alongside the expected stress from isolation and anxiety associated with the disease. People who experienced COVID-19 showed higher odds of developing a mental disorder compared to people who never got it.

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The study was large, analyzing data from over 150,000 patients in the Veterans Health Administration. The only data analyzed were from patients who had not had any mental health diagnosis or treatment for at least two years prior to contracting COVID-19. Researchers found that patients with COVID-19 were 35% and 39% more likely to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety, respectively, in the months following infection than those without the disease. Infected people were also 41% more likely to be diagnosed with a sleep disorder than uninfected people.

While most people who get COVID-19 do not develop a mental illness (only 4.4% and 5.6% of people in the study were diagnosed with a mental illness), there is still a connection between the two, which is paid for should pay attention to.

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Other interesting findings worth keeping an eye on include patients with COVID-19 who are more likely to turn to alcohol (20%), opioids (34%), and more for relief.

Chances are the majority of us have experienced some mental distress during the pandemic. For some, coping with the disease responsible for the deaths of millions of people around the world may understandably have added stress.