Published: 20/11/2025 Tags: Medical & Scientific News

Variant Connective Tissue as a Risk Factor for Long COVID

According to new research, people with joint hypermobility may face a higher risk of developing long COVID.

Researchers surveyed over 1,800 adults who had previously been infected with COVID-19. They found that people with joint hypermobility were more likely to report long COVID symptoms. These symptoms lasted three months or more after their initial infection. The risk of prolonged symptoms was even higher for those with a higher degree of joint hypermobility.

These findings could help guide future research into why people with hypermobility are more vulnerable to conditions like long COVID. Researchers may also explore whether similar patterns are seen in people with EDS and HSD.

You can read the full research article here. and scroll below to learn more about the study’s findings.

Authors: Regina A Torok, Jeffrey Lubell, Rena M Rudy, Jessica Eccles, and Lisa Quadt

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2025-002949

Slide titled ‘What is long COVID?’. Text reads: ‘Long COVID occurs when a person continues to experience symptoms for three months or longer after a COVID-19 infection.’ Below, a list of common issues includes: • Brain fog • Shortness of breath • Fatigue/post-exertional malaise • Sleep disturbances • Joint and muscle pain • Heart palpitations/fast heart rate. The background features white and blue curved design elements.
Slide titled ‘What is long COVID?’. Text reads: ‘Long COVID is estimated to affect over 400 million people worldwide, with around one in four experiencing significant disruption to daily life.’ On the right side, there is a blue line drawing of a globe. The background includes white and blue curved design elements.
Slide titled ‘Why is this study important?’. Text reads: ‘Long COVID is a public health concern. Studies found that people with generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) had poorer recovery after COVID-19 infections. However, no studies had explored whether the degree of hypermobility influences the risk of developing long COVID.’ The background features white and blue curved design elements.
Slide titled ‘What was the purpose of the study?’. Text reads: ‘The study aimed to test whether the degree of joint hypermobility could predict the development of long COVID.’ Below the text are two illustrations of a person in blue clothing demonstrating flexibility tests: one bending forward to touch the floor and another extending an arm outward with an arrow indicating joint movement. The background includes white and blue curved design elements.
Slide titled ‘What were the study’s findings?’. Text inside two blue rounded boxes reads: Top box: ‘People with generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) were more likely to develop long COVID.’ Bottom box: ‘The risk of long COVID is even higher for those with higher degrees of joint hypermobility.’ The background features white and blue curved design elements.
Slide titled ‘What were the study’s findings?’. Text reads: ‘Research suggests that joint hypermobility could increase the risk of long COVID in two ways:’ followed by two numbered blue boxes. Box 1: ‘People who had mild or no initial symptoms of COVID-19 infection are more likely to develop long COVID.’ Box 2: ‘Joint hypermobility increases the risk of more severe COVID-19 symptoms during the initial infection, which in turn raises the likelihood of developing long COVID.’ The background features white and blue curved design elements.
Slide titled ‘How could this impact research in EDS and HSD?’. Text reads: ‘Researchers need to confirm these findings using a larger and more diverse sample. More work is also needed to understand why people with joint hypermobility may be more vulnerable to long COVID.’ On the right side, there is a blue icon of two test tubes. The background features white and blue curved design elements.

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