Overweight women are more likely to experience long-term COVID symptoms

Overweight women are most likely to be infected with the new coronavirus for a long time

According to new research from the University of East Anglia, overweight women are more likely to experience prolonged Covid symptoms
.

The new study, published today, is one of the largest in the
UK on prolonged Covid.
Studies have shown that a higher BMI is associated with this and that women are more likely than men to experience prolonged Covid
.

Research has also shown that people who have been infected with Covid for a long time are more likely to need additional, often long-lasting NHS care
, than those who recover quickly.

Professor Vasilios Vasilio, from the Norwich Medical School of the University of East Anglia, said: "Long Covid is a complex condition that develops during or after infection with Covid and is classified as long Covid
when symptoms persist for more than 12 weeks.

"It is believed that more than 2 million people in the UK have had prolonged Covid and it affects people
in different ways.
Difficulty breathing, cough, palpitations, headache, and severe fatigue are the most common symptoms
.

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 smell or taste.

"We wanted to find out what factors might make it easier or less likely for people to have prolonged Covid
.
"

The team looked at patients
who tested positive for coronavirus PCR in Norfolk in 2020.
A total of 1,487 people took part in an online survey covering prolonged COVID symptoms
such as dyspnea, chest pain, fatigue, memory problems and anxiety.

They found that more than half of the participants (774) had at least one prolonged Covid symptom, indicating a high
self-reported illness.

Next, they looked at the participants' medical records to see what factors might make people more or less susceptible to the disease
.

Factors including BMI, gender, drug use, other health conditions, and whether or not you live in a poor area are taken into account
.

Professor Vasilio said: "We show that in the first year of the pandemic, more than half of respondents who tested positive for Covid in the East of England reported long-term Covid symptoms
.

"All these people were infected months before the launch of the Covid vaccination programme and they had many new symptoms
that did not exist before they were infected with Covid.

"Interestingly, we found that women had more prolonged Covid symptoms
than men.
We also found that high BMI was associated
with prolonged Covid.

"This is very important because such information can be used to analyse those who
are 'at risk' of contracting Covid for a long time.

"We also found that prolonged Covid patients were more than three times more likely to use healthcare services than
those without prolonged Covid symptoms.

"We hope our work will help decision-makers plan for local services and inform the wider public about the scale of
the prolonged Covid pandemic," he added.

Dr Mark Lim, interim director of services at Norfolk and Wevini Integrated Care Board, said: "When Covid-19 hit, it was new
to everyone.
All clinicians and the wider health and care system work together to address the impact of the virus and protect our people and communities
.

"Our academic colleagues at the University of East Anglia have really helped local health and care organisations identify local patients at risk of prolonged Covid and helped us to support their recovery journey as much as we can
.
"

The study was led by the University of East Anglia in collaboration
with Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, Norfolk and Wevini Integrated Care Council, East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation NHS Trust, Ipswich Hospital and University College London, Newcastle University and the University of Cambridge.

'Risk factors for post-coronavirus syndrome 2019 and further use of health services in East England' was published in the journal PLoS Global Public Health on 30 November 2022
.