LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF COVID-19 ON MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IN YOUNG ADULTS

Objectives: This study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on various long-term psychological and physical symptoms in young adults from Slovakia. Methods: 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. Results: 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). Conclusions: 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.