The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 45 COVID patients today, 44 yesterday. Other significant numbers:
- 27 with the active virus today, 29 yesterday
- 4 in ICU, 6 yesterday
- 1 on a ventilator, same as yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, The University of Kansas Health System
- Millions of Americans infected with COVID could still be suffering with long COVID.
- Health and Human Services (HHS) has been in the forefront of trying to better understand and treat the numerous insidious side effects of long COVID.
- People continue to have fear or anxiety about getting the vaccines – but they are safe. They've been given so much around the world, and they can also help reduce the risk of getting long COVID.
- Faith, hope, science – that combination is the most powerful of medicines.
Admiral Rachel Levine, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health
- In August, HHS released two reports. One was on support and services for long COVID and the other was the National Research Action Plan on long COVID which involves research at the NIH, research at the CDC, and some very interesting research at the VA as well.
- We have found that children do have long COVID – particularly teenagers, but also younger children as well – and they have some of the same signs and symptoms that we might see in adults.
- In February 2023, research was showing potential disparities amongst racial and ethnic groups. The study found that individuals at different racial groups had differing rates of symptoms or conditions that are associated with long COVID.
- For example, Black and Hispanic patients were more likely to experience conditions associated with the circulatory system compared to white adults.
- Additionally, Black and Hispanic adults were more likely than white adults to experience any condition associated with long COVID.
- We know that health disparities had existed in the United States, and COVID has shown us the depth and breadth of these health disparities.
- We need to find out more about why people are having different signs and symptoms in different clusters and then develop targeted treatments for those specific patients.
- We are seeing that the majority of patients with long COVID over six to 12 months are making a recovery, but we are seeing a subset of patients that are having chronic long-term symptoms that are really disabling.
- If there's any message that people should take away, it's that long COVID is real, and HHS and the Biden Administration are doing everything they can to learn more about it through these studies to develop programs and support for people who have long COVID so they get the help that they need.
- We need to continue to invest in our health systems.
- If you’ve been immunized and boosted, you have a reduced chance of getting long COVID.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, The University of Kansas Health System
- A small study is out about how turmeric lowers post-COVID inflammatory response.
- This is one good step toward trying to find other methods to be healthier or boost immunity.
- We need to continue to focus on prevention – with screenings and vaccines.
Friday, March 30 is the next Morning Medical Update. Learn more about the painful 8-year journey from cancer diagnosis to remission – and the concerning healthcare gap Black patients face.
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