UEA research: vaccination halves risk of long-Covid
A new study has linked vaccination and a lower risk of developing long-Covid
Research from the University of East Anglia has found that being vaccinated halves the risk of people developing long-Covid.
The condition affects approximately 2 million people in the UK and can lead to things like shortness of breath.
Overweight people, women, smokers and those over the age of 40 age are also more likely to suffer from long Covid according to the study.
The research looked at 860,000 patients and is thought to be the largest of its kind.
Prof Vassilios Vassiliou, from UEA's Norwich Medical School said: “Long Covid 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.
“Just over two million people in the UK are thought to suffer with long Covid and 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 wanted to find out what factors might make people more or less susceptible to developing long Covid.
“We found that female sex, older age, increased BMI and smoking are associated with an increased risk of long Covid.
“In addition, co-morbidities such as asthma, COPD, Type 2 Diabetes, coronary heart disease, immunosuppression, anxiety and depression are also associated with increased risk.
“Furthermore, severe illness during the acute phase as reflected by the need for hospitalisation or admission to an intensive care unit, is also associated with the development of long Covid.
“Conversely, it was reassuring to see that people who had been vaccinated had significantly less risk - almost half the risk - of developing long Covid compared to unvaccinated participants.
“These findings are important because they enable us to better understand who may develop long Covid and also advocate for the benefit of vaccination.”