When we talk about COVID-19, often we use two categories: those who have died, and those who have survived. But this hour, we examine the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on survivors of all ages. This is a body of research still unfolding, and there are many unanswered questions. But there are now enough cases of long-term COVID-19 impact to inspire researchers and to inspire a social media meme under the hashtag "Long COVID." The research raises concerns: almost 60 percent of mild COVID-19 cases have ongoing symptoms at a three-month followup.
This hour, we hear from long-term COVID-19 patients, and we ask doctors to describe what we do know and what we don't know about the way COVID-19 affects the body over time. Our guests:
- Athena Akrami, COVID-19 survivor
- Sara Matteson, COVID-19 survivor
- Dr. Laurie Beth Lerner, M.D., pulmonologist at Rochester Regional Health
- Dr. Anthony Pietropaoli, M.D., vice chief and professor of pulmonary diseases and critical care at the University of Rochester Medical Center
- Renee Madathil, Ph.D., assistant professor and inpatient rehabilitation neuropsychologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center
