Long-term consequences of COVID-19 on mental and physical health in young adults

This study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on various long-term psychological and physical symptoms in young adults from Slovakia.

We assessed 229 Slovak young adults aged 18 to 30 years. Probands were interviewed using standardised questionnaires. The relationship between COVID-19 and long-term health symptoms was determined using Pearson's chi-square test. The McNemar test was used to determine the differences in health symptoms before and after COVID-19 recovery.

The statistically significant effect of COVID-19 after recovery on adverse cognitive health was only documented in women in the following symptoms: memory deterioration (p < 0.001), problems with concentration (p < 0.001), difficulty in handling tasks requiring thinking, planning and problem-solving (p < 0.001), and problems with finding the correct words in their expressions (p = 0.001). The prevalence of these symptoms was higher in women after the COVID-19 recovery than before. Participants also reported the most pronounced long-term changes in the following physiological symptoms: decreased physical fitness (p < 0.001 for women and men) and headaches (p < 0.001 for women). In addition, women menstrual cycle changes were reported significantly more frequently in women after COVID-19 recovery than before (p < 0.001). Furthermore, it was found that in addition to overcoming COVID-19, physical inactivity was also significantly associated with a deterioration in memory (p = 0.042), concentration problems (p = 0.041), and decreased physical fitness in women (p = 0.014). Smoking was associated with changes in the menstrual cycle (p = 0.002).

Significant effects of COVID-19 on mental and physical health were found. These effects demonstrate that COVID-19 has had a negative impact on the long-term health and quality of life of young adults.