Omicron less likely to cause long Covid, UK study finds
- Researchers found the odds were 20 to 50 per cent lower compared to the Delta variant, with the figure varying depending on age and timing of last vaccination
- But despite the reduced risk, more people have been infected with Omicron, meaning the number of patients with lingering symptoms has actually increased
The Omicron coronavirus variant is less likely to cause long Covid than previous variants, according to the first peer-reviewed study of its kind from the United Kingdom.
Researchers at King’s College London, using data from the Zoe Covid Symptom study app, found the odds of developing long Covid after infection were 20 per cent to 50 per cent lower during the Omicron wave in the UK compared to Delta.
The figure varied depending on the patient’s age and the timing of their last vaccination.
Long Covid, which includes prolonged symptoms ranging from fatigue to “brain fog”, can be debilitating and continue for weeks or months. It is increasingly being recognised as a public health problem, and researchers have been racing to find out if Omicron presents as big a risk of long Covid as previously dominant variants.
The study from King’s is believed to be the first academic research to show Omicron does not present as great a risk of long Covid, but that does not mean long Covid patient numbers are dropping, the team said.
While the risk of long Covid was lower during Omicron, more people were infected, so the absolute number now suffering is higher.