Coronavirus effect: Study links lower sex drive with long COVID; identifies vulnerable groups

As the duration of the pandemic continues to grow with constant spike and fall in number of cases amid rising new variants of COVID-19, the understanding of long COVID – long-term effects from COVID infection – also keeps on expanding.

Earlier, the most common symptoms in the weeks and months after a COVID infection were known to mostly include loss of smell and shortness of breath. Fatigue, rashes and brain fog have also been lately recognised as signs of post-COVID.

Now, researchers have confirmed that long COVID encompasses an ‘extremely broad’ range of symptoms, which have been reported by sufferers for more than two years. They have also identified several group based on factors such as sex, health issues, ethnicity, etc., which are more vulnerable to develop long COVID.

According to the peer reviewed analysis of health records from 2.4 million people across England, a reduced sex drive – which includes difficulties ejaculating and diminished libido, hallucinations and hair loss are also among a wider set of long COVID symptoms. This variety of symptoms also includes the less well-known side effects such as amnesia, and an inability to perform familiar movements or commands. The research was published in Nature Medicine.

The data was taken between January 2020 and April 2021. The team of clinicians and researchers found that nearly 500,000 patients with a recorded COVID infection, none of whom were hospitalized, experienced 62 symptoms 12 weeks or longer after infection, compared to those who had not contracted COVID-19.

The researchers also found that the overall symptoms identified spanned multiple organ systems and could be grouped under one of three categories: respiratory symptoms like cough and shortness of breath; mental health and cognitive problems like anxiety and brain fog; and a broader range of symptoms like pain and fatigue.

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Researchers have also identified key groups and behaviour that put people at increased risk of developing long COVID. The study found that women, younger people and those from a black, mixed or other ethnic group were more vulnerable to experience post-COVID symptoms.

People from poorer backgrounds, smokers and people who were obese also reported persistent symptoms. The researchers shared that those with health issues such as celiac disease, migraines, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, anxiety and depression were also at greater risk of developing lingering symptoms after the initial infection.

Anuradhaa Subramanian, lead author of the paper, said that the findings of the study can help to understand what causes and contribute to long COVID. “Women are, for example, more likely to experience autoimmune diseases. Seeing the increased likelihood of women having long COVID in our study increases our interest in investigating whether autoimmunity or other causes may explain the increased risk in women.”

These observations can help health professionals to focus on protecting the vulnerable groups and identify the risk factors that can contribute to them experiencing symptoms for weeks, months, or even years.

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This research is evidence that long COVID symptoms can also include many health issues and including even the less well-known signs is crucial so that the sufferers do not ignore their symptoms and the health care providers can provide the required treatment. People who fall under the vulnerable groups at a higher risk should keep an eye on their symptoms and take necessary steps to improve their immunity.