The risk of long COVID has decreased during the pandemic, although it is still a concern. Vaccination has been identified as a key factor in reducing the risk of long COVID.
The risk of developing long COVID has significantly dropped throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, as per an analysis led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
About 70% of the risk reduction is attributed to COVID-19 vaccination, with the remaining 30% due to changes over time like the evolving characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and better detection and management of COVID-19.
The study was published on July 17 in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The senior author of the study, Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, a Washington University clinical epidemiologist and prominent figure in COVID-19 research, stated, “The research on declining rates of long COVID marks the rare occasion when I have good news to report regarding this virus.”
Long COVID refers to the enduring and debilitating health effects experienced by around 10% of individuals who have had COVID-19. The World Health Organization has recorded over 775 million cases of COVID-19 to date.
Al-Aly has conducted over 30 extensive studies outlining the virus’s long-term health impacts across various organ systems such as the heart, brain, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.
Despite the more positive results from recent studies, Al-Aly cautioned, “Long COVID is not fully eradicated.” It is crucial to remain vigilant, including getting regular COVID vaccinations, as they play a crucial role in reducing the risk of long COVID.
Al-Aly has been focused on studying long COVID since the beginning of the pandemic to help the public make informed health decisions, support scientists in providing evidence-based recommendations, and assist policymakers in making informed choices regarding funding and public health policies. His latest study delves into the virus’s various strains and overall evolution.
To conduct this study, Al-Aly and his team analyzed millions of de-identified medical records from a US Department of Veterans Affairs database, encompassing 441,583 veterans with SARS-CoV-2 infections and over 4.7 million uninfected veterans from March 1, 2020, to January 31, 2022.
The veterans were separated into five groups based on their COVID-19 status and the virus variant they contracted. The research showed a decline in long COVID rates over time, with vaccinated individuals having lower risks compared to unvaccinated individuals.
Although the decline in long COVID risk is positive, Al-Aly stressed that it remains a significant concern. The study highlights the importance of continuous efforts to understand and prevent long COVID.
The study was supported by funding from the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
