May 4, 2024

Omicron Variant Less Likely To Cause Long COVID

According to brand-new research, the threat of long COVID was less during the Omicron wave compared to the Delta wave.
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron version is less likely to trigger long COVID than the Delta variation, brand-new research study has actually found.
Analysis by scientists from Kings College London of data from the ZOE COVID Symptom study app is published today (June 18, 2022) in a letter to the medical journal The Lancet. The findings are from the very first peer-reviewed study to report on long COVID threat and the Omicron version.
Long COVID is specified by NICE standards as having brand-new or continuous symptoms 4 weeks or more after the start of the illness. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of concentration, and joint discomfort. The signs can adversely impact day-to-day activities, and sometimes can be badly limiting.

Long COVID is defined by NICE guidelines as having ongoing or new signs 4 weeks or more after the start of the illness. The outright number of people experiencing long COVID was in fact higher in the Omicron period. The UK Office of National Statistics estimated the number of individuals with long COVID in fact increased from 1.3 million in January 2022 to 2 million as of May 1st, 2022.

Researchers found the chances of experiencing long COVID were between 20-50% less throughout the Omicron period versus the Delta period, depending upon age and time considering that vaccination.
The research study identified 56,003 UK adult cases first checking favorable between December 20, 2021, and March 9, 2022, when Omicron was the dominant pressure. Scientist compared these cases to 41,361 cases first testing positive in between June 1, 2021, and November 27, 2021, when the Delta variant was dominant.
The analysis shows 4.4% of Omicron cases were long COVID, compared to 10.8% of Delta cases. Nevertheless, the outright variety of individuals experiencing long COVID was in fact greater in the Omicron duration. Due to the fact that of the huge number of people infected with Omicron from December 2021 to February 2022, this was. The UK Office of National Statistics estimated the variety of people with long COVID really increased from 1.3 million in January 2022 to 2 million as of May 1st, 2022.
Lead author, Dr. Claire Steves from Kings College London, stated: “The Omicron variation appears significantly less likely to cause Long-COVID than previous versions however still 1 in 23 people who capture COVID-19 go on to have symptoms for more than 4 weeks. Given the numbers of individuals affected its important that we continue to support them at work, in your home and within the NHS.”
Reference: “Risk of long COVID related to delta versus omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2” by Michela Antonelli, Joan Capdevila Pujol, Tim D Spector, Sebastien Ourselin and Claire J Steves, 18 June 2022, The Lancet.DOI: 10.1016/ S0140-6736( 22 )00941-2.