Suffolk Reporter

A recent study has found a significant link between multiple Covid-19 infections and the development of Long Covid, also known as post-acute sequelae of Covid-19 (PASC). The research identified 475 patients with Long Covid, out of which 403 had experienced multiple infections over a four-year period from March 2020 to February 2024.

The study was conducted by researchers at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, in collaboration with the Stony Brook World Trade Center Health and Wellness Program. It aims to provide a foundational assessment of Long Covid in the post-pandemic era. Few studies have examined such a large sample size to determine what puts patients at risk for Long Covid.

The findings were published online in the February edition of The Lancet Regional Health – Americas. Lead author Sean Clouston stated, “While it is possible that the causes of Long Covid could be many and variable depending on the patient population studied, with this cohort the evidence is clear that by having Covid numerous times, patients became more at-risk for developing Long Covid.”

The study involved more than 2,500 first responders who had previously contracted Covid-19 and were monitored for infection complications by the Stony Brook WTC Health and Wellness Program. The program's physicians identified 475 individuals with persistent symptoms ranging from fatigue and mental fog to respiratory problems.

Researchers followed World Health Organization guidelines to identify participants with Long Covid as those experiencing new or continuing symptoms within three months after their initial infection that persisted for at least two months without other medical explanations.

Benjamin Luft, director of the program and co-author of the study, emphasized that understanding specific risk factors like reinfection or lack of vaccination is crucial for managing Long Covid. He explained, “There are some possible pathogenic mechanisms that cause Long Covid, but the entire spectrum of its risk factors remains unknown.”

The authors noted that preventing infection is key to avoiding Long Covid but highlighted vaccination's role in reducing risk. They wrote, “Among those who later developed PASC, we found that the risk of PASC was much higher among individuals who were unvaccinated at the time of their first (Covid-19) infection.”

Luft added that even vaccinated individuals should take measures to mitigate infection severity as vaccines are not foolproof.

This research received support from grants provided by National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.