A groundbreaking study published in BMC Medicine reveals that 1 in 8 COVID-19 survivors still suffer from symptoms two years after infection. Researchers in Catalonia, Spain, found that 23% of adult COVID-19 survivors develop long COVID, with 56% of them—or 13% of all infected individuals—experiencing persistent symptoms. This study sheds light on the long-term effects of COVID-19 and identifies key risk factors and protective measures.
What is Long COVID?
Long COVID refers to a range of symptoms that continue or develop weeks, months, or even years after the initial COVID-19 infection. These symptoms can affect multiple organs and significantly impact daily life.
Key Findings from the Study
The research team analyzed 2,764 COVID-19 survivors from a pre-pandemic population-based cohort. Participants were followed up in 2020, 2021, and 2023, with data collected on clinical, vaccination, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors. Blood samples and patient questionnaires were used to track symptoms and antibody levels.
Here are the major takeaways:
- 23% of participants developed long COVID.
- 56% of long COVID patients (1 in 8 survivors) still had symptoms after 2 years.
- Three long COVID subtypes were identified:
- Mild neuromuscular (51.6%)
- Mild respiratory (20.6%)
- Severe multi-organ (27.8%)
The severe multi-organ subtype carried the highest risk of persistent symptoms, with a relative risk (RR) of 1.61.
Most Common Long COVID Symptoms
The study highlighted the following prevalent symptoms:
- Neurologic symptoms (63%)
- Muscular symptoms (39%)
- Respiratory symptoms (28%)
- Psychological and psychiatric symptoms (21%)
Women were more likely to report neurologic and muscular symptoms, while men experienced more respiratory issues.
Risk Factors for Long COVID
Certain factors increased the likelihood of developing long COVID:
- Female sex
- Age younger than 50
- Low socioeconomic status
- Severe COVID-19 infection
- High pre-vaccination IgG levels
- Obesity
- Chronic illnesses like asthma, COPD, or depression/anxiety
Notably, individuals with mild or moderate COVID-19 had over three times the risk (RR, 3.10) of lingering symptoms compared to asymptomatic individuals. Those with severe infections were nearly 10 times more likely (RR, 9.88) to experience long-term symptoms.
Protective Factors Against Long COVID
The study also identified factors that reduced the risk of long COVID:
- Vaccination before or within 3 months after infection
- Omicron variant infection
- Regular physical activity
- Sleeping 6 to 8 hours per night
“Pre-infection vaccination confers a protective effect on long COVID, even when accounting for COVID-19 severity,” the researchers noted.
The Impact of Long COVID on Mental Health and Quality of Life
The pandemic’s long-term effects extend beyond physical health. Coauthor Rafael de Cid, PhD, emphasized, “The pandemic’s impact on mental health, work, and quality of life remains profound.”
Call for Further Research
Senior author Judith Garcia-Aymerich, MD, PhD, stressed the need for more studies. “Establishing collaborations with other countries will be key to understanding whether these findings can be extrapolated to other populations,” she said.
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