– Brain fog causes memory loss, concentration problems and cognitive problems. I heard people talking, but I didn’t like what they were saying, says Liv Kunhild Aus.
Almost two years after she contracted the coronavirus, she still has problems. Today, he is on 50 percent sick leave from his job in the healthcare system. He has taken an approved decision on occupational injury after the corona pandemic.
– It goes in waves. Now I’m in a valley where I’m characterized by brain fog and extreme fatigue that makes me perform poorly.
He is optimistic and hopes to be able to work full-time again soon. But for now, she needs to take it easy and listen to her body.
– I can sit in a meeting and be in the middle of a sentence and forget what I was going to say.
Both work and her social life have taken a huge toll from the disease.
Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / NRK
Scientists are concerned
Aceh’s social life has also been affected by disease and is now almost non-existent.
– I have to force myself to look for it. People mostly know that I have such ailments, but still, it prevents it. Not only because I can’t carry on conversations, but because I’m so tired.
Scientists are concerned Because more and more people are struggling with health problems as a result of corona infection.
In 2022, 43,000 people responded to an unpublished study, the “Norwegian Corona Study,” led by physician and researcher Arne Soras at Oslo University Hospital. Now they compared The first 43,000 responded in 2020 and 2021.
Answer in 2022 9.3 percent had memory loss. 14.5 percent report poor concentration and 21.9 percent report poor health in general.
Arne Soras, physician and researcher at Oslo University Hospital.
Photo: Torstein Bo / NRK
Soras believes the study is representative of the Norwegian population and that his findings confirm that Covid-19 is causing health problems.
– People who have it are twice as likely to have memory and concentration problems compared to people who don’t, he says.
– Among the most common symptoms
Soras says it’s uncertain whether the problems will go away.
– There are now many studies that show that memory and concentration last much longer. “After two years we have not seen any improvement, which is certainly not a good sign,” he says.
Signe Flottorp, research manager at FHI.
Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) research manager Sine Flottorp said several national and international studies show that the late effects of Covid-19 are a health problem.
– However, the results of various studies differ when it comes to the occurrence and duration of symptoms, he says.
Flottorp points out that most studies indicate that the risk of late sequelae is lower among those infected with the Omicron variant and vaccinated than those infected before the pandemic.
– The risk of memory problems was approximately doubled among those affected compared to those without the infection, consistent with findings from other studies.
5,566 damage reports related to Corona
The Norwegian Nurses Association (NSF) has assisted in around 70 Covid cases.
Yvonne Frøen, a lawyer at the NSF, said NAV approved 36 of the 54 cases.
However, he says the main problem with lawsuits is insurance companies. Only a small number of cases have been recognized and none of the cases have been fully implemented with a view to determining compensation.
– Although in most cases, NAV has recognized this disease as an occupational disease, the issue of approval is still implemented by insurance companies, says Frøen.
On September 1, 2022, the NAV received total 5,566 damage reports related to Covid-19 (external link).
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