A cross-sectional study using an online survey database has found that a high share of people with a history of COVID-19 showed symptoms of the post-COVID condition—also known as long COVID—as determined from their scores on separate scales for health-related quality of life and somatic symptoms.

Researchers, including Yasuharu Tokuda, Kiyosu Taniguchi, Kenji Shibuya, and Takahiro Tabuchi of the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, published their findings in the American Journal of the Medical Sciences. The results indicate that those infected by the novel coronavirus, especially those with severe symptoms, had a significantly higher somatic symptom burden. The authors conclude that vaccination is crucial to addressing these symptoms, especially among high-risk patients.

“Post-COVID health-related quality of life and somatic symptoms: A national survey in Japan,” American Journal of the Medical Sciences
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002962923011655

Profile of Senior Fellow Yasuharu Tokuda
https://www.tokyofoundation.org/experts/detail.php?id=680

Profile of Research Director Kiyosu Taniguchi
https://www.tokyofoundation.org/experts/detail.php?id=678

Profile of Research Director Kenji Shibuya
https://www.tokyofoundation.org/experts/detail.php?id=653

Profile of Senior Fellow Takahiro Tabuchi
https://www.tokyofoundation.org/experts/detail.php?id=676