More Studies Identify High Risk Factors for Long COVID

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The number of new COVID-19 cases is on the rise again, according to recent information from the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Variant JN.1, which accounts for approximately 30-50 percent of the current variants being monitored in the U.S., has increased more rapidly than other variants. According to COVID Data Tracker statistics, the total number of COVID-19 new hospital admissions increased from 16,655 on Nov. 11 to 29,959 cases on Dec. 23. 

COVID-19 by itself, has certainly had an impact on the world as a whole. That impact continues to be felt in the form of long COVID, with some studies suggesting that the number of cases has been greatly under estimated.  While researchers had begun to suspect that the SARS-CoV-2 elicited an auto-immune type response, potentially causing a whole host of long term inflammatory reactions throughout the body, studies are now revealing that certain conditions may increase the odds of developing long COVID. 

A study published in the November issue of Systemic Review has suggested that people with pre-existing allergic type conditions, such as asthma or rhinitis, may have a higher risk of developing long COVID. The study is not the first to find an association in inflammation levels and the likelihood of developing long COVID.  There have been multiple studies that suggest anxiety or depression, arthritis, and autoimmune diseases can all carry a greater risk of developing long COVID, and science is continuing to identify high risk groups.

Women are also more likely to develop long COVID, according to least two studies. One small study conducted by Chinese researchers found that perimenopausal and menopausal women were more likely to develop long COVID. The same study found that in general, women under the age of 50 were five times more likely to develop long COVID symptoms post-discharge than male patients.

A recent UK study found that while female patients may have had lower levels of inflammation upon hospital admission, they were more likely to suffer long COVID symptoms such as muscle ache, and anxiety, than male patients. 

Obesity is another condition that increase the odds of developing long COVID, according to a late study by researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia. Researchers found that a BMI higher than 25 is associated with an impaired immune response to a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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