Being vaccinated against Covid halves people’s risk of developing long Covid, according to new research involving Addenbrooke's.
A team involving a number of hospitals including Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) looked at data from 41 studies around the world, involving a total of 860,783 patients, to investigate the risk factors for developing long Covid.
The study, thought to be the largest of its kind, found that overweight people, women, smokers and those over the age of 40 age are more likely to suffer from long Covid.
In addition, the research found that co-morbidities such as asthma, COPD, Type 2 Diabetes, coronary heart disease, immunosuppression, anxiety and depression are also associated with increased risk of long Covid, as well as patients who are hospitalised during an acute Covid infection.
Meanwhile, people who have been vaccinated have significantly less risk - almost half the risk - of developing long Covid compared to unvaccinated participants.
We found that female sex, older age, increased BMI and smoking are associated with an increased risk of long Covid.
Professor Vassilios Vassiliou
Prof Vassilios Vassiliou, from UEA's Norwich Medical School and honorary consultant cardiologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, said:
“These findings are important because they enable us to better understand who may develop long Covid and also advocate for the benefit of vaccination.”
Long Covid - a complex condition
Long Covid still affects around two million people in the UK.
It is a complex condition that develops during or after having covid, and it is classified as such when symptoms continue for more than 12 weeks.
It affects people in different ways. Breathlessness, a cough, heart palpitations, headaches, and severe fatigue are among the most prevalent symptoms.
Other symptoms may include chest pain or tightness, brain fog, insomnia, dizziness, joint pain, depression and anxiety, tinnitus, loss of appetite, headaches, and changes to sense of smell or taste.
We can now better understand and serve this population with long term care planning, support for Long Covid clinics and increase awareness of the prevalence and impact of the condition.
Dr Eleana Ntatsaki
Co-author Dr Eleana Ntatsaki from UCL and Ipswich Hospital said:
“Our findings help define the full demographic characteristics and the risk factors for developing Long Covid.
“This means we can have a better strategy for optimising any modifiable risk factors, with public health promotion campaigns, encouraging smoking cessation, vaccination and healthy weight management in the target population.”
This research was led by the University of East Anglia in collaboration with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Imperial College London and Imperial College NHS Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), Ipswich Hospital and University College London.
Some of the research team has been funded and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
‘Risk Factors Associated With Post-COVID-19 Condition - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (opens in a new tab)’ is published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.