Studies show that for long COVIDs, omicrons are at lower risk than deltas: shots

New studies show that Omicron variants are much more contagious than Delta strains, but are still prevalent in the United States, but are less likely to cause longer COVIDs than Delta.

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New studies show that Omicron variants are much more contagious than Delta strains, but are still prevalent in the United States, but are less likely to cause longer COVIDs than Delta.

Spencer Pratt / Getty Images

According to the first large study published on the long-term risks posed by Omicron, variants of Omicron are much less likely to cause longer COVIDs than deltas.

However, nearly 5% of those who catch Omicron still experience fatigue, brain fog, headaches, heart problems, or other health problems at least one month after infection. Is known from research.

Some researchers felt reassured about the results, while others consider that so many people have captured Omicron and are clearly at risk of being vaccinated. , Says the results are alarming.

“It’s scary,” he says. Akiko IwasakiYale School of Medicine immunobiologist, has been studying COVID for a long time, but was not involved in new research.

“People are” infected and get over it, “says Iwasaki, because Omicron is milder.

Survey results, Published on Thursday LancetCame from a researcher at King’s College London, who is tracking thousands of people who tested positive for coronavirus to determine the risk of coronavirus. Long COVID From various variants.

“The basic question we are trying to answer is:’In the delta period, long COVIDs are common … [as it is] In the Omicron era? “The doctor says. Claire Steves, The person who helped carry out the research. “What is the risk of long COVID given the different variants?”

Researchers captured 56,003 Omicrons between 20 December 2021 and 9 March 2022, and 41,361 Deltas between 1 June 2021 and 27 November 2021. An app that compares people and tracks symptoms using something special.

Researchers have found that those who catch Omicron are about half as likely to have health problems after a month as those who catch Delta.

“Thankfully, using the Omicron variant significantly reduces the risk of long COVIDs compared to the Delta variant,” Steves told NPR in an interview. “That’s great news.”

This is especially good news, as Omicron is so contagious that it infects a huge number of people incredibly rapidly. Had the risk been equal to or greater than Delta, the number of people with longer COVIDs would have exploded.

Findings are consistent with smaller ones analysis Recently released by the UK Government.

But low risk doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t worry about long COVIDs because of Omicron, Steves and others agree. Studies show a 4.4% chance of getting a long COVID from Omicron, but almost 10.8% from Delta.

“The caveat is that so many people are affected because the Omicron variants are spreading so rapidly throughout our population. So, sadly, we get a long COVID. The overall absolute number of people trying will rise. ” “So it’s definitely not the time for us to reduce long COVID services.”

However, for any individual, the findings show that the risk of both becoming seriously ill and developing persistent symptoms is significantly lower.

This study did not address why Omicron may reduce the risk of long COVIDs. However, Steves et al. Say that it makes sense that Omicron is less likely to cause persistent symptoms, as Omicron is less likely to get sick than Delta.

“Because of the low severity of the illness, and because it seems a bit superficial in terms of illness … it has little effect in terms of the severity of the immune response,” says Steves. “Therefore, it reduces the chances of a long COVID.”

Other researchers say these findings need to be confirmed by additional research.

“They only saw people who reported symptoms with this app. In fact, they didn’t evaluate these patients or collect objective data at any clinic,” National said. Dr. Michael Sneller, who has been studying COVID for a long time at the Institute of Health, says. ..

However, Sneller says that Omicron does not seem to surprise him even if it is unlikely to cause a long COVID, as it appears to cause less serious illness.

Some researchers say the findings hope to correct the misunderstanding that people don’t have to worry about long COVIDs from Omicron.

“We say you know:” You can take off your mask by plane. You don’t have to be vaccinated anymore to enter the restaurant. “All these policy decisions make people infected with COVID. However, there is a 5% chance of severe chronic illness, “says Dr. David Putrino, Dealing with long COVIDs at Mount Sinai in New York City. “It is short-sighted and will create many long-term disorders that do not need to be present.”