Study Suggests COVID-19 Reinfection May Increase Chances of New Health Issues

New study preprint by Washington University and VA Saint Louis Health Care System’s researchers suggested that repeatedly getting COVID-19 appears to increase the chances of a patient facing new and lasting health complications post-infection.

Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, clinical epidemiologist at Washington University School of Medicine and his team looked at health records of approximately 5.7 million patients data stored in the United States Veterans Health Administration (VHA) electronic health databases, the team found that when compared with people with one COVID-19 infection, those with two or more infections (reinfection) had a more than doubled risk of mortality and risk of being hospitalized. Reinfected patients also have an increased risk of lung and heart complications, tiredness, and neurological problems.

Related article: FDA Panel Suggests Redesigning Vaccines to Target Omicron Variants, Pfizer & Sanofi Share Booster Updates

Proven Need for Reducing COVID-19 Reinfection

Latest data from the CDC showed the Omicron subvariant BA.5 is responsible for 54% of all COVID-19 cases, while the CDC does not track reinfections, reports around the globe, such as Imperial College London, found that nearly two-thirds of COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom were reported as reinfections. Coupled with enhanced transmissibility, BA.5 has mutations that let it escape antibodies produced by vaccines and earlier infection(s), making reinfections highly possible for people.

The team investigated 257,427 participants with their first SARS-CoV-2 infection and 38,926 participants who had SARS-CoV-2 reinfection (2+ infections), the risk of a new health problem peaked around the time of reinfection, and it also persisted for at least six months. Risk remains higher for reinfected people, regardless of vaccination status, but the researchers said it was more common to see reinfections among people who had existing or underlying health issues.

“Questions have been raised whether reinfection increases the risk of Long Covid – the umbrella term encompassing the post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection,” the authors said. “Our results show that beyond the acute phase, reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 contributes substantial additional risks of all-cause mortality, hospitalization, and post-acute sequelae in the pulmonary and broad array of pulmonary organ systems.”

Author

Fujie Tham