OUR vaccination halves the risk of long-term effects COVID-19 (long Covid), according to the University of East Anglia’s largest study to date, published in the journal “JAMA Internal Medicine“.

Long-term Covid syndrome still affects about two million people in the UK and research is identifying risk factors associated with developing the condition.

Overweight people, women, smokers, and people over 40 are more likely to suffer. long covidaccording to studies conducted on more than 860,000 patients.

Comorbidities such as asthma, COPD, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, immunosuppression, anxiety, and depression have also been found to be associated with an increased risk of long-term Covid.

In addition, patients hospitalized during an acute Covid infection are more likely to experience long-term symptoms.

Instead, “it was reassuring to see that people who were vaccinated had a significantly lower risk, almost half, of getting long-term Covid compared to unvaccinated participants,” says Professor Vassilios Vassiliou of the Norwich Eastern University Medical School in England and honorary consultant. Cardiologist at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals.

Mr Vassiliou explains that “protracted Covid is a complex condition that develops during or after the onset of Covid and is classified as such when symptoms continue for more than 12 weeks.”

The most common long-term symptoms of Covid are shortness of breath, coughing, palpitations, headaches and extreme fatigue, Mr Vassiliou said.

Other symptoms may include chest pain or tightness, confusion, insomnia, dizziness, joint pain, depression and anxiety, tinnitus, loss of appetite, headaches, and changes in smell or taste.

Study co-author Eleana Datsaki, from University College London (UCL) and Ipswich Hospital, notes that “the results help identify general demographics and risk factors for long-term Covid.

We can now better understand and serve this population through long-term care planning, supporting long-term Covid clinics, and raising awareness of the prevalence and impact of the condition.”

She adds that “in addition, we may have a better strategy for optimizing any modifiable risk factors through public health campaigns, encouraging cessation of smoking, vaccination and healthy weight management among the target population.”

The study was conducted by the University of East Anglia in collaboration with Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, Imperial University London, UCL, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Cambridge and Ipswich University Hospitals.

MONKEY BEE