According to a study, the public health consequences of SARS-CoV-2 are more severe compared to heart disease or cancer. However, some experts argue that the findings of the study may magnify the actual harm for the general population

Scientists are still studying the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 on human health. Using a large database of U.S. veterans’ health records, researchers have found that COVID-19 can lead to increased risks of various conditions, including heart failure and fatigue, even years after the initial infection. The overall impact of COVID-19 on public health is estimated to be more than 50% greater than that of cancer or heart disease. While some researchers agree with the study’s findings, others point out limitations in the statistical analysis that may have resulted in an overestimation of harm to the general population. The study considered 80 health problems and analyzed data from 140,000 COVID-19 positive individuals and 6 million individuals with no infection record. The risks for certain health issues remained elevated even after 2 years, particularly among those hospitalized with COVID-19. The study also calculated disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which measure healthy lifetime lost due to disease or disability, and found that SARS-CoV-2 infection led to a high number of DALYs compared to cancer and heart disease. However, some scientists caution that the study sample may not be representative of the general population. They also point out potential biases and confounding factors that may have influenced the results. Despite these limitations, researchers agree that the long-term effects of COVID-19 are serious and warrant further investigation.