Vaccination halves the risk of long-term effects of Covid-19 (long Covid), according to the largest study to date from the University of East Anglia (East Anglia) published in the journal “JAMA Internal Medicine”.

Long Covid syndrome still affects around two million people in the UK and research reveals the risk factors associated with developing the condition.

Overweight people, women, smokers and those over 40 are more likely to suffer from long Covid, according to the survey of more than 860,000 patients. Also, co-morbidities such as asthma, COPD, type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, immunosuppression, anxiety and depression were also found to be associated with an increased risk of long Covid. In addition, patients hospitalized during acute Covid infection are more likely to experience long-term symptoms.

Instead, “it was reassuring to see that people who had been vaccinated had a significantly lower risk, almost half, of developing long Covid compared to unvaccinated participants,” says Professor Vasilios Vassiliou, from Eastern University’s Norwich School of Medicine of England and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals.

Mr Vassiliou explains that “long 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 Covid symptoms are, according to Mr Vassiliou, shortness of breath, cough, palpitations, headaches and severe fatigue. Other symptoms may include chest pain or tightness, brain fog, insomnia, dizziness, joint pain, depression and anxiety, tinnitus, loss of appetite, headaches, and changes in the sense of smell or taste.

Study co-author Eleana Datsaki, from University College London (UCL) and Ipswich Hospital, points out that “the findings help define overall demographic characteristics and risk factors for developing long Covid. We can now better understand and serve this population with long-term care planning, support for long Covid clinics and increasing awareness of the prevalence and impact of the condition.” She adds that “in addition, we can have a better strategy to optimize any modifiable risk factors, with public health promotion campaigns, encouraging smoking cessation, vaccination and healthy weight management in the target population.”

The research was carried out 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.