Long COVID lingers longer after Delta than Omicron, UK study finds

An analysis from the UK has revealed that the risk of long COVID is influenced by the strain an individual was initially infected with. The analysis reported that an estimated 1.8 people in the United Kingdom complained about experiencing lingering symptoms, or long COVID, in the month of April. 

According to the Office for National Statistics, over two-thirds of people who reported lingering signs revealed that their symptoms had a major negative impact on their regular day-to-day activities, with almost a fifth of them saying that the symptoms resulted in a lot of everyday limitations.

The report published by the statistics bureau on Friday stated that the likelihood of symptoms like concentration problems, fatigue and shortness of breath were 50% lower after getting infected by the omicron BA.1 strain, compared to the delta variant.

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This disparity was only detected in adults who had been inoculated with two doses when they contracted the virus. The difference was far less significant among the populace that had been jabbed thrice against COVID-19. 

The data in the study also revealed that those who received triple vaccination had comparatively higher chances of experiencing long COVID after being infected with Omicron than Delta.

While long COVID symptoms continue to be reported, they do not pose severe health risks. However, symptoms like fatigue or shortness of breath can leave an individual distressed and unable to perform basic tasks and activities.

Also Read: Study: Severe COVID-19 linked to adverse mental health outcomes

A report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office in March claimed that long COVID can lower worker participation, thus poorly impacting the economy in a broad sense. It can also heighten the need to use publicly subsidized insurances like Social Security disability insurance.