Post-COVID-19 syndrome risk factors and further use of health services in East England 2022,Debski et al

Abstract
Post-COVID syndrome, defined as symptoms persisting for more than twelve weeks after the diagnosis of COVID-19, has been recognised as a new clinical entity in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

This study was conducted to characterise the burden and predictors for post-COVID-19 syndrome in the local population. It was a community-based web-survey study conducted in Norfolk, East England, UK.

We sent the survey to patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection by real-time polymerase chain reaction by December 6th, 2020. Questions related to the pre-COVID and post-COVID level of symptoms and further healthcare use. Baseline characteristics were collected from the primary care records. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to establish predictors for post-COVID-19 syndrome and further healthcare utilisation.

Of 6,318 patients, survey responses were obtained from 1,487 participants (23.5%). Post-COVID-19 syndrome symptoms were experienced by 774 (52.1%) respondents.

Male sex compared to female sex was a factor protective of post-COVID symptoms; relative risk (RR) 0.748, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.605–0.924.
Body mass index was associated with a greater risk of developing post-COVID-19 symptoms (RR 1.031, 95% CI, 1.016–1.047, for 1 kg/m2).
A total of 378 (25.4%) people used further health services after their index COVID-19 infection, of whom 277 (73.2%) had post-COVID symptoms.

Male sex was negatively associated with the use of further health services (RR 0.618, 95% CI, 0.464–0.818) whereas BMI was positively associated (RR 1.027, 95% CI, 1.009–1.046).

Overall, post-COVID-19 symptoms increased the probability of using health services with RR 3.280, 95% CI, 2.540–4.262.

This survey of a large number of people previously diagnosed with COVID-19 across East England shows a high prevalence of self-reported post-COVID-19 syndrome. Female sex and BMI were associated with an increased risk of post-COVID-19 syndrome and further utilisation of healthcare.

https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0001188

 

article
Women having a higher BMI more likely to experience long Covid

https://www.news-medical.net/news/2...BMI-more-likely-to-experience-long-Covid.aspx

 

"The research also shows that people with long Covid are much more likely to need additional, and often lasting, NHS care than those who make a swift recovery."

Mindblowing.

 

I would imagine this association might not apply to the LC-ME subset, and is in fact due to the association between BMI and possible cardiovascular / breathing issues, and the known extra risk of developing conditons such as diabetes after covid infection.