ABSTRACT
Background: SARS-CoV-2 virus infection known as COVID-19 has affected both worldwide healthcare structures and personal lives of individuals. After the acute phase of infection numerous COVID-19 patients suffered from enduring physical, psychological and social complications which health professionals now call “Long COVID” or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). The identification of long-term effects requires critical importance for developing proper treatment methods.
Aim: The study investigates fundamental biological processes alongside chronic results of COVID-19 that affect regular activities of individuals who have the virus.
Methods: The twelve-month research took place within Ayub Medical Hospital Abbottabad during February 2024 through January 2025. The research evaluated one hundred participants who had received medical verification for COVID-19 recovery. The researchers obtained data through structured interviews, conducted clinical assessments alongside validated quality-of-life questionnaires that evaluated physical as well as mental and social domains of patients.
Results: The study revealed that both fatigue with reduced stamina and neurocognitive symptoms affecting memory along with concentration difficulty persisted in 67% of participants. A majority of 52% experienced higher anxiety along with depression after their recovery period. In sixty percent of cases the patients reported negative impacts on their work productivity alongside their social relationships. Imaging and laboratory tests performed on certain participants revealed persistent inflammation together with minor functional problems that mainly affected their lungs and cardiovascular system.
Conclusion: COVID-19 survivors experienced extensive long-term effects that interfered with daily life through continuous physical issues and mental and social problems starting months after their recovery. The observations emphasize the necessity of using sustained monitoring and rehabilitation services with supportive care for COVID-19 patients to enhance their life quality and restore their abilities.
Keywords: COVID-19, Long COVID, Daily Life Impact, Post-COVID Syndrome, Quality of Life, Ayub Medical Hospital, Fatigue, Neurocognitive Effects, Mental Health, Rehabilitation