A new study led by Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) and published in BMJ Public Health has found that joint hypermobility – a marker of variant connective tissue – significantly increases the risk of developing Long Covid.
The research, which surveyed more than 1,800 adults in the UK and US, showed that both generalised joint hypermobility and a newly defined concept of “extreme hypermobility” predicted Long Covid, even when controlling for factors such as age, sex, vaccination status, and number of infections.
The findings suggest that hypermobility increases risk in two ways: by making severe symptoms during the initial infection more likely, and by increasing the odds that even people with mild or no initial symptoms develop Long Covid. Those with extreme hypermobility were found to be at particularly high risk.
Listen to Doctors Jessica Eccles and Lisa Quadt talk about the study in the above video.
Dr Jessica Eccles, Reader in Mind and Body Medicine at BSMS and senior author, said: “Our research shows that hypermobility is not simply a benign trait – it may be an important risk factor for Long Covid. This highlights the need for clinicians to be aware of connective tissue differences when supporting patients, and for further research into tailored treatments for those most at risk.”
Researchers emphasise the need for further studies to validate the concept of extreme hypermobility and to understand the biological mechanisms linking connective tissue differences to Long Covid. They also highlight the importance of developing tailored clinical support for people with connective tissue disorders who may be disproportionately affected.
With Long Covid estimated to impact more than 400 million people worldwide, these findings could help identify vulnerable groups and improve personalised care approaches.
Read the study in full here >