BMC Med

COVID-19 vaccination tied to lower fibromyalgia risk following infection

May 14, 2025

Study details: This study utilized data from the TriNetX platform to compare 90,508 COVID-19 survivors who received the COVID-19 vaccine with 90,508 unvaccinated survivors. The primary objective was to assess the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on the risk of developing new-onset fibromyalgia (FM).

Results: A significant reduction in the risk of new-onset FM was found among vaccinated COVID-19 survivors compared with their unvaccinated counterparts (hazard ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.99). Subgroup analyses revealed that the protective effect of the vaccine was particularly notable in males, individuals with a BMI < 30, and those with comorbid depression and anxiety.

Clinical impact: COVID-19 vaccination may play a protective role in reducing the risk of new-onset FM among COVID-19 survivors. Targeting vaccination efforts towards specific subgroups, such as males, individuals with lower BMIs, and those with mental health conditions, may enhance the protective effects and further reduce the incidence of long-term health complications associated with COVID-19.

Source:

Liu A, et al. (2025, May 1). BMC Med. COVID- 19 vaccination reduces new-onset fibromyalgia risk in survivors. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40312371/