Feeling irritable and confused may be new coronavirus warning sign, experts find

EXPERTS have warned of new coronavirus symptoms that could leave sufferers feeling irritable and confused.

Researchers found that people taken ill by Covid-19 may experience psychiatric problems both when they are in hospital and when they recover.

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Analysis from University College London Institute of Mental Health along with King’s College London found that one in four people hospitalised with the virus may experience a state of delirium during their illness.

So far in the UK NHS England has reported that there has been over 34,000 deaths due to the coronavirus, while the Office for National Statistics claims that number is actually closer to 40,000.

Doctors have previously highlighted that they have witnessed patients with symptoms such as confusion and disorientation.

The new study suggests that symptoms such as delirium can increase the risk of death in patients and could also extend their time in hospital.

Experts compiled results from short and long term hospitalised patients who had coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS, as well as Covid-19.

The researchers looked at 65 peer reviewed studies which included data from over 3,500 people.

They found that one in three people who had been hospitalised with SARS or MERS went on to develop PTSD.

This is while rates of depression and anxiety in patients were also high, with 15 per cent of patients experiencing these a year after overcoming the illness.

A further 15 per cent also experienced mood swings, impaired concentration and fatigue.

28 per cent of patients who were hospitalised experienced confusion and the researchers said that evidence from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic suggests delirium could be as common in Covid-19 patients.

The authors also found some preliminary evidence that delirium may have been associated with raised mortality during the MERS outbreak.

Speaking to The Conversation researchers said that confusion affects 20 per cent or more of patients in hospital with Covid-19 and that outbreaks have been linked to high rates of mental illness in the aftermath.

Delirium is a short state but they added that these patients would be twice as likely to die in hospital and those who develop the condition could remain in hospital a week longer.

This in turn would put a bigger strain on the NHS and would create problems when it comes to freeing up beds for more patients.

Research also found that those who had more severe cases of the virus and those who had lost loved ones to the virus also had worse psychological conditions. 

BACK TO NORMAL LIFE

Co-lead author Dr Jonathan Rogers (UCL Psychiatry and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust) said: “Most people with Covid-19 will not develop any mental health problems, even among those with severe cases requiring hospitalisation, but given the huge numbers of people getting sick, the global impact on mental health could be considerable.

“Our analysis focuses on potential mental health risks of being hospitalised with a coronavirus infection, and how psychiatric conditions could worsen the prognosis or hold people back from returning to their normal lives after recovering.”

This is while Dr Edward Chesney, the co-lead author said that more research was needed in order to address how to prevent mental health issues in the long term. 

Experts had previously discussed the impact Covid-19 may have on health professionals, with some having previously claimed they may suffer with PTSD.

The research found that health care workers would have worse mental health in the long run.

Senior author Professor Anthony David (UCL Institute of Mental Health) said: “To avoid a large-scale mental health crisis, we hope that people who have been hospitalised with Covid-19 will be offered support, and monitored after they recover to ensure they do not develop mental illnesses, and are able to access treatment if needed.

“While most people with Covid-19 will recover without experiencing mental illness, we need to research which factors may contribute to enduring mental health problems, and develop interventions to prevent and treat them.”