Skopje, 2 December 2022 (MIA) – Although it seems the Covid-19 pandemic has let up, health workers have been stressing that the focus is more and more being redirected toward the consequences emerging after Covid recovery. Cardiovascular diseases as well as neurological disorders are pointed out as the most frequent post-Covid symptoms.

Current Covid-related matters, chronical illnesses and vaccination were discussed Friday at a press briefing organized by the Macedonian Institute for Media.

“We discussed the most frequent symptoms carrying the recovered Covid patients, which can last for months, potentially even years and we pointed out the importance of vaccination in reducing the chances of such symptoms. All major studies have shown that the vaccinated less frequently report long Covid and symptoms that hamper everyday activities after recovering. One of the major risk factors contributing to long Covid include severe Covid illness, being of advanced age, female gender and being not vaccinated,” said doctor Aleksandar Petlichkovski, head of the Commission for Infectious Diseases.

Cardiologist Valentina Andonova said the clinic of cardiology has reported a rising number of patients coming for an examination at the outpatient hospital, which include patients as young as 25-30 years of age with serious cardiovascular diseases. Usually, the patients reports symptoms such as fatigue, chest pain, difficulties in breathing, whereas post-Covid symptoms usually include dilated cardiomyopathy, left and right heart failure, arrhythmia, venous thromboembolism and inflammatory changes of the heart that are much more common than before the pandemic.

“Covid and post-Covid are different, but other risk factors include unhealthy habits, such as smoking obesity, no exercise,” she stated.

Post-Covid patients coming for an examination at the clinic of neurology usually report having headaches, dizziness, epileptic attacks, changes in the functioning of the central nervous system, dementia, and problems with the peripheral nervous system, said doctor Gordana Kiteva Trenchevska of the Neurology Clinic.

Covid, she said, changes the immunological response, which turns against their own structures in the nervous system instead of fighting the virus. “It is necessary to monitor the symptoms from the beginning to be able to react on time and the consequences from these serious neurological diseases to be lessened,” added the doctor.

The Commission for Infectious Diseases is monitoring the situation involving frequent respiratory diseases, said doctor Petlichkovski adding it is normal after the lifting of the restrictions.