Thread by @TheAmirImani

1/ The message is consistent: Variants are causing more severe infection in younger people.

You’ve seen the stories of 30-40 year olds in the ICU, on heart/lung machines, and dying.

So from a rehab hospital, let me tell you about some of the survivors. 🧵

2/ We see #COVID19 survivors of all ages. Early 30s to late 90s.
- Severe cases often have some lung injury.
- Many develop heart issues or have existing ones worsen.
- Going from “frequent hikes” to “need to catch my breath halfway up a flight of stairs” is a common complaint.

3/ - Some developed nerve injury, especially if they needed long ICU care.
- Same with kidney injury.
- Oh ya, and LOTS of clots. Usually have to continue blood thinners here. 1/5 ppl hospitalized with COVID develop clots.

4/ - A cough that won’t stop and loss of smell and taste seem to last a while.
- Cognitive issues aren't rare either. I’ve had pts tell me they’re in a constant fog.
- And the mental health burden can be 𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦.

5/ - Needing ICU care itself can be traumatic. Now imagine waking up after a week to realize that the infection you barely survived also spread to your loved one and took their life.
Post-COVID PTSD is well recognized.

6/ And this is all about the severely ill - the ones who needed hospital + rehab. We’ve known for a WHILE some of these things can happen without severe infection in the community (see pic)

7/ I wrote a “late” article on #LongCOVID back in November 2020. That was like 15 years ago!
@glenpyle wrote on the cardiac complications around that time too @COVID_19_Canada. This isn't news.

covid19resources.ca/2020/12/15/lon…
covid19resources.ca/2020/12/07/lon…

8/ This is what we're exposing our essential workers to.

There is an ocean of injury and disability beneath the waves of COVID-19. And we dichotomize outcomes of infection as “lived” vs “died” at our peril.

9/ Vaccinations are just one part of the picture too.

We need to do more. We need sick day protections and to hold negligent workplaces accountable.

Please consider contacting your MPP or local politician.
ola.org/en/members/cur…

Late 10/ Please keep in mind some of the above when you see frontline staff like @SharkawyMD or @drmwarner share their experiences about patients in the ICU or on ECMO.

Saving critically ill COVID patients is a victory, but it's not the end of the line.