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A recent study published in the open-access journal BMJ Public Health suggests that individuals with a condition known as generalised joint hypermobility, colloquially referred to as being “double jointed,” may be at a heightened risk of experiencing long COVID. The research indicates that those with hypermobile joints were 30% more likely not to fully recover from a COVID-19 infection compared to individuals without this condition, with persistent fatigue being a prominent symptom associated with long COVID.
Understanding the Study
The study drew upon data from 3,064 participants in the COVID Symptom Study Biobank, all of whom had experienced at least one bout of COVID-19 infection. Researchers surveyed these individuals to ascertain whether they had hypermobile joints, their recovery status from COVID-19, and whether they were experiencing persistent fatigue. The findings revealed that around one in three participants reported not fully recovering from their last COVID-19 infection, with nearly 30% of them having generalised joint hypermobility.
Key Findings and Implications
After adjusting for various factors, including age, sex, ethnicity, and vaccination history, the study found a strong association between joint hypermobility and failure to fully recover from COVID-19. Individuals with hypermobile joints were approximately 30% more likely to report incomplete recovery compared to those with normal joints. Furthermore, joint hypermobility significantly predicted high levels of fatigue, which played a crucial role in the failure to achieve full recovery.
Limitations and Further Research
While the findings provide valuable insights, the study has its limitations. As an observational study, it cannot establish causality, and various factors such as duration of symptoms, coronavirus variant, and pre-existing conditions were not fully accounted for. Additionally, the majority of participants were women and of White ethnicity, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings.
Conclusion
Long COVID is recognized as a complex condition with multifaceted underlying mechanisms. The study suggests that joint hypermobility may contribute to the risk of experiencing long COVID, emphasizing the need for further exploration into potential subtypes or phenotypes of the condition. Understanding the association between joint hypermobility and long COVID could aid in identifying individuals at higher risk and developing tailored treatment strategies for this subset of patients. Further research in this area is warranted to unravel the intricate interplay between joint hypermobility and long-term COVID-19 outcomes.
