The REACT-LC study from Imperial College London discovered that catching Covid-19 during the colder winter months could be a factor in whether certain people’s symptoms persist.
According to new research, more people may be able to escape the debilitating Long Covid virus if they contract it during the warmer months of the year.
According to the most comprehensive investigation yet conducted into the little-understood syndrome, rates decreased as the British weather improved.
Researchers believe that contracting the virus during the colder winter months may play a role in whether or not some symptoms last.
In a survey of 508,000 British people carried out between September 2020 and February 2021, 37 percent of individuals who said they had Covid had at least one persisting symptom 12 weeks later.
According to new data from 100,000 more Britons who took part in Imperial College London’s REACT-LC project, prevalence dropped to 22 percent in May 2021.
One notion is that getting outside for social contact and exercise in the brighter weather helps people heal faster from long-term illnesses.
Author Prof Helen Ward added: “Fatigue and tiredness was the most commonly reported symptoms. They may have symptoms that are affected by the seasons.
“Even if the [Long Covid] estimates are at the lower end of the spectrum, we conclude that a lot of people have long persisting symptoms.
“This is a major, major challenge. It’s the next big global health challenge.”
The findings, which are set to be published in the journal Nature Communications, demonstrate that women are 38% more likely than males to suffer from Long Covid, while being less likely to suffer from severe consequences during the first infection.
After a thorough examination, it was discovered that symptoms that persisted for at least 12 weeks tended to cluster together.
Many individuals experience persistent respiratory symptoms like tightness in the chest and shortness of breath.
A second group of Long Covid patients reported fatigue, muscle and joint problems, and difficulties sleeping.
The first polling was conducted during the peak of the pandemic, when many individuals were experiencing lockdowns and staying at home more.
Researchers can’t rule out the possibility that some of the discrepancy in the subsequent polling was due to people forgetting how long their symptoms had lasted.
Prof Ward said: “Most of the infections reported were from before 2020 so there may be some aspect of recall bias.”
It is estimated that at least half of the UK population has had symptomatic Covid.
The majority of persons who contracted Covid experienced symptoms that vanished within the first month, according to researchers.
If a symptom lasted longer than 12 weeks, it was more likely to stay with the patient for at least six months.
“That suggests there’s some chronic illness going on there,” Prof Ward said.
“We know millions of people in the UK have had this infection.
“The more extreme cases have been left with significant disability, such as profound tiredness and brain fog, and they really can’t function and hold down a job.”
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