Double-Jointedness Associated With Greater Long COVID Risk, Study Reveals; Findings Could Help Shed Light on Persisting COVID-19 Symptoms, Treatment

According to a new study, double-jointedness, or generalized joint hypermobility, is a risk factor for getting long COVID.

Double-Jointedness and Long COVID

Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) refers to when some or all of the joints of a person can move to a degree that is greater than normal. The condition has been previously linked to other risk factors of long COVID, such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, and depression.

Across the UK, where the study was conducted, GJH is quite a common condition that affects roughly 20% of the population.

Researchers, who are from King's College London as well as Brighton Sussex Medical School (BSMS), were able to uncover a bizarre association among survey responses. The survey covered 3,064 individuals who got infected with COVID-19 at least once. Findings were noted in the "Is joint hypermobility linked to self-reported non-recovery from COVID-19? Case-control evidence from the British COVID Symptom Study Biobank" study.

Data revealed that individuals with GJH had a roughly 30% higher risk of experiencing persisting symptoms after their last time of getting infected. Persistent fatigue, which is a key long COVID symptom, was also observed to be more common among individuals with GJH.

Neuroscientist Jessica Eccles, who is from BSMS, explains that the study reveals how GJH is a long COVID risk factor. Findings also show that individuals with hypermobility have a higher likelihood of experiencing greater fatigue levels.

As GJH has been previously associated with other long COVID risk factors, the researchers wanted to connect the dots in this study. GJH stems from differences in the body's connective issues, which could shed light on how such differences contribute to the chronicity and damage that COVID-19 infections can bring.

Though the researchers did consider other factors, such as vaccinations and age, the data of the survey was not sufficiently comprehensive to show a causal relationship. There could be another factor that increases the risk of both long COVID and GJH.

Mysteries of Long COVID

Nevertheless, the association's strength does show that the matter is worth investigating further. Oftentimes, long COVID is linked to pre-existing medical conditions. Researchers are trying to uncover more details about what is taking place.

Eccles explains that long COVID still lacks understanding. However, it has been increasingly acknowledged that dysregulated inflammatory, metabolic, and autonomic processes play a part in the condition.

Moving forward, the next steps would be to enhance methods for identifying who has the highest risk for long COVID and offering support to such individuals. It would also be necessary to examine biological mechanisms that may slow down COVID-19 recovery among certain individuals.

Nathan Cheetham, a data scientist from King's College London, explains that identifying GJH as a risk factor is crucial, as it reveals the potential biological reasons why some individuals are more affected compared to others.

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