New research from Örebro University suggests COVID-19 may have caused more severe long-term consequences than previously understood, according to a study analyzing data from 10 million Swedes. The research, conducted by epidemiologists Snieguole Vingeliene, Scott Montgomery, and Ayako Hoyoshi, indicates that even individuals who did not experience severe COVID-19 symptoms may have developed impaired immune systems. The study examined Swedes aged 3-100 years during 2020-2022 and found the coronavirus may worsen other diseases.
Researchers expressed concern that COVID-19 could lead to increased risk of glandular fever and potentially contribute to more cases of multiple sclerosis and other serious neurological conditions in the future. Vingeliene noted the virus appeared to have worse effects on younger individuals regarding immune system function and glandular fever risk. While more MS diagnoses have been observed post-pandemic, researchers caution that establishing COVID-19 as the direct cause remains uncertain.