Omicron less likely to cause long COVID than Delta: Study

In the first peer-reviewed study of its kind, researchers from the United Kingdom have drawn a conclusion that Omicron variant of coronavirus is less likely to cause long COVID than previous variants. Researchers from King's College, London have carried out this study.

For the study, researchers used data from the ZOE COVID symptom study app. They found that odds of long COVID from Omicron were 20 to 50 per cent less than Delta. There was a variance in the figure depending to age and timing of last vaccination of a patient.

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.

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Although risk of long COVID was lower during Omicron infection, the absolute number of those suffering was high due to high transmission rate of Omicron variant

"It's good news, but please don't decommission any of your long COVID services," lead researcher Dr Claire Steves told Reuters, appealing to health-service providers.

The UK's Office for National Statistics said in May that 438,000 people in the country have long COVID after Omicron infection, representing 24% of all long COVID patients.

It also said the risk of lingering symptoms after Omicron was lower than with Delta, but only for double-vaccinated people. It found no statistical difference for those who were triple vaccinated.

(With inputs from agencies)

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