According to a study conducted by Intermountain Healthcare in Utah, people who have previously had COVID-19 may experience chest pains for six to twelve months after infection. The study does not appear to control for vaccination status, and the report makes no mention of vaccines.
The Salt Lake City study examined 150,000 patients for cardiovascular symptoms and discovered that those who tested positive for COVID-19 “had higher rates of chest pain six months to a year after the infection.”
However, no other increases in cardiovascular events were observed.
Furthermore, the study claims that one in every five people who have had COVID-19 have “long COVID.”
“Nearly 19% of U.S. adults who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 report having ‘Long COVID,’ which means they have signs and symptoms for four weeks or more after the initial phase of infection,” according to the study.
The study concludes that those infected with COVID-19 may experience health complications “for months, if not years, after infection.”
At the same time, Intermountain Healthcare announced its participation in a medical research initiative, joining a total of 42 health care organizations that will receive funding for upcoming projects. According to KSL.com, the Health Systems Implementation Initiative can provide health care organizations with funding ranging from $500,000 to $5,000,000.
The initiative is supported by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, which is investing $50 million to fund it. The PCORI describes itself as a “independent, nonprofit research organization that seeks to provide actionable information about patients’ and others’ health and healthcare choices.”
The board of governors of the organization is made up of over 20 doctors. It also has a diversity-driven strategic plan, which “reinforces PCORI’s longstanding commitment to accelerating diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in all aspects of our activities—via a health equity lens.”
Intermountain Healthcare stated in its 2020 annual report that it receives federal funding specifically to study “long COVID,” adding, “Intermountain has leveraged its expertise to launch major initiatives to study Long COVID (persistent COVID).”
Working with “the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States Government’s COVID-19 Therapeutics program” is also mentioned in the report.
Intermountain Healthcare has also recently removed the requirement for indoor masks in its facilities.
