Pre-existing Allergies Linked to Higher Risk of Long COVID, Study Finds
A new study published in Clinical & Experimental Allergy has found a direct link between pre-existing allergic conditions and a higher risk of experiencing long COVID. This is one of the first studies to assess the relationship between long COVID and allergies.
The analysis included 13 prospective studies with a total of 9,967 participants who were followed up for at least 12 months after being diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The studies, published between January 1, 2020, and January 19, 2023, aimed to determine the prevalence of long COVID and its association with pre-existing allergies.
According to the study, the proportion of people with long COVID varied widely, ranging from 11% to 90%, with a median of 53.3% across the studies. Additionally, the analysis found that pre-existing asthma was associated with an increased risk of long COVID, with an odds ratio of 1.94. Similarly, preexisting allergic rhinitis was significantly associated with an increased risk of long COVID, with an odds ratio of 1.96.
However, the authors of the study noted the need for a better, harmonized definition of long COVID for epidemiological studies of this sort. They cautioned that only 3 of the 13 studies measured long COVID with physical examinations and comprehensive questionnaires and pointed out a high risk of bias due to patient selection and loss to follow-up.
Senior author Christian Apfelbacher, PhD, of the Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research in Germany, emphasized the importance of updating the analysis as further studies are published in the coming months.
The findings of the study highlight the importance of understanding the long-term effects of COVID-19, especially in individuals with pre-existing allergic conditions. As researchers continue to gather data on long COVID, efforts to develop a standardized definition and comprehensive assessment of the condition will be crucial in understanding its full impact.