For many people, SARS-CoV-2 causes unpleasant symptoms like aches, coughs and fatigue for a few weeks. But in roughly one in five cases, the discomfort lasts for months.
It is still unclear why prolonged COVID-19 puts some individuals at risk for acute infection.
A team of experts from across the country analyzed records of 4,708 U.S. adults infected with SARS-CoV-2 between April 2020 and February 2023. About one in five people were still suffering from symptoms due to COVID-19 three months after infection. threshold For Long COVID.
Long COVID was found to be more common in women and people with a history of cardiovascular disease, and was less common in people who had been vaccinated or who experienced less severe symptoms. Omicron Variant Of infection.
“Our study highlights the important role that COVID vaccination plays not only in reducing the severity of infection but also in reducing the risk of long COVID.” To tell Elizabeth Oelsner, an epidemiologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Health conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and smoking history were associated with longer recovery times, but these became nonsignificant once other risk factors were taken into account.
Severe infections and longer recovery times were also found to be more common among American Indian and Alaska Native participants. We already know About racial and ethnic disparities caused by COVID-19.
Some of these risk factors include a higher risk of long COVID in women and a lower risk in those who have been vaccinated. Previously reportedHowever, in this sample, the researchers found no significant associations with mental health problems, despite long COVID-19 causing significant changes to the brain.
“While studies suggest that many long COVID patients experience mental health issues, they did not identify depressive symptoms prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection as a significant risk factor for long COVID.” To tell Elsner.
Knowing more about who is most at risk for long COVID can help researchers shed light on why it’s happening to certain people and, from there, what treatments might be effective for the condition.
As most of the world tries to move beyond the pandemic, the millions of people around the world who continue to have symptoms of COVID-19, and society at large, will benefit from continued research into the disease.
“Our study clearly demonstrates that long COVID poses a significant burden on individuals and society.” To tell Elsner.
“By identifying those who may have had a longer recovery time, we can better understand who should be involved in ongoing research into how to reduce or prevent the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.”
This study JAMA Network Open.
