COVID-19 repeat infections linked to increased risk of back problems

A study conducted by the Public Health Agency of Canada and Statistics Canada has identified a link between COVID-19 infections and an increased risk of new medical diagnoses, specifically back problems.

Analyzing data from 8,809 adults between April 2022 and June 2023, researchers found that individuals who contracted COVID-19 twice faced nearly four times the odds of being diagnosed with new back problems. Those with a single infection showed a 63% increase in the odds of receiving a new medical diagnosis. Additionally, patients experiencing symptoms for three months or longer had more than three times the odds of a new diagnosis.

Researchers suggest that the correlation may be influenced by the fact that individuals with severe or prolonged symptoms seek medical care more frequently, leading to the discovery of unrelated conditions. There is also a possibility of reverse causation, where prolonged symptoms might stem from an undiagnosed condition.