The histories of Long Covid patients are as different as the possible symptoms: "In principle, anyone who has been infected with the coronavirus can develop Long Covid ," emphasized Dr. Rachael Evans from the University of Leicester in Great Britain recently at a specialist conference organized by the Long Covid Medical Association in Jena . Relatively speaking, however, there are groups of people who are affected more often than others. According to Evans , that's about middle- aged women– while, on the other hand, men and older people are more susceptible to a severe course of the acute corona infection . Common risk factors for both a severe acute course and for long Covid are obesity and previous illnesses such as diabetes.

Frequent infections increase long-Covid risk

According to Evans , people who have been vaccinated three times are less likely to develop Long Covid than those who have not been vaccinated. On the other hand, the risk does not depend on the SARS-CoV-2 variant, at least in the case of vaccinated people. Avoiding an infection if possible is still the best protection against Long Covid , because according to initial data , the risk of this increases with every infection .

These are external features and are correspondingly imprecise. Pathophysiological theories cannot be derived from this. This requires immunological parameters. They are the research area of ​​Professor Dr. Akiko Iwasaki from Yale University in New Haven , USA , who also spoke at the conference.

Iwasaki first reminded that SARS-CoV-2 is not the only virus that can cause post-acute infection syndrome (PAIS). Such phenomena are also known from Ebola, dengue, polio , SARS and chikungunya viruses, among others, and are probably not limited to viral pathogens. " Long Covid has thrown a spotlight on all of these syndromes," said the immunobiologist, who, together with colleagues led by Jan Choutka from the University of Prague , published an overview of various PAIS in the journal "Nature Medicine" in May of this year .