Coronavirus: Omicron less likely to put patients in long COVID; details here

New data suggests the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is likely to result in long COVID, the aftermath condition after COVID recovery which can extend up to a few months.

The data obtained from The Office for National Statistics (ONS), UK reveals that the odds of reporting long COVID symptoms four to eight weeks after a first coronavirus (COVID-19) infection were 49.7% lower in infections compatible with the Omicron BA.1 variant than those compatible with the Delta variant among adults who were double-vaccinated when infected.

Currently Omicron is the dominant strain of coronavirus which is causing infections worldwide. Ever since the variant has taken over Delta, it has been in discussion for its high transmissibility and mutations. The Omicron variant has been the attention centre of researchers from late 2021 till date. So far, it has mutated to a number of sub variants. One recombinant variant, result of two of its subvariants, has also come to fore. This recombinant variant called XE, has been confirmed in one case in India; worldwide more than 600 cases of XE have been found.

The data shows that prevalence of long COVID for doubled-jabbed adults infected with the Delta variant was 16%, in contrast to 9% for Omicron BA.1.

“Among double-vaccinated adult study participants, the socio-demographically adjusted prevalence of self-reported long Covid four to eight weeks after a first coronavirus (Covid-19) infection compatible with the Delta variant was 15.9%. This is compared with 8.7% for infections compatible with the Omicron BA.1 variant," the UK, ONS data says, and adds that, “among triple-vaccinated adults, there was no statistical evidence of a difference in the adjusted prevalence of self-reported long Covid between first infections compatible with the Delta variant and those compatible with either Omicron BA.1 or Omicron BA.2. However, adjusted prevalence was higher for infections compatible with Omicron BA.2 (9.3%) than it was for those compatible with Omicron BA.1 (7.8%).”

The report says that an estimated 1.8 million people, which is equivalent to 2.8% of the total population, in the UK were likely to be experiencing symptoms of long COVID.

Read: The most bizarre COVID symptoms seen so far

It won't be wrong to say that long COVID is the period of chaos after the COVID infection subsides.

It was until a few months before when reports of post-COVID condition came to fore, people got to know that what they have been experiencing post COVID infection was actually a health condition that needs medical attention.

Signs like difficulty in concentration, fatigue, extreme weakness, brain fog, impaired sense of smell and taste are some of the common symptoms of long COVID.

There is no properly recommended medical cure for it, but health experts have been suggesting people to take medical assistance as soon as these signs are spotted.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also addressed this issue and has made people aware of this condition. Terming it post COVID condition, the WHO says the condition persists in people for weeks and months.

Fatigue is one of the common indicators of long COVID. As per the UK, ONS report, 51% of those with self reported long COVID had fatigue. Many other research studies have also confirmed this.

Shortness of breath, loss of smell and brain fog are the other common signs of long COVID which account for more than 20% each of all those with self reported long COVID.

While the report estimates close to 2.8% of total population to be having long COVID, it also adds that its occurrence was the highest among those between 35 to 49 age group.

Long COVID is also seen more in females, those living in deprived areas, those working in social care, teaching and education or health care, and those with another activity-limiting health condition or disability, the report says.

"Long COVID symptoms adversely affected the day-to-day activities of 1.2 million people (67% of those with self-reported long COVID), with 346,000 (19%) reporting that their ability to undertake their day-to-day activities had been "limited a lot"," the ONS report adds.