Research team evaluates risk factors for Post COVID

A research team led by Halle University Medicine evaluated data from the German National Cohort (NAKO Gesundheitsstudie) regarding possible risk factors for Post COVID. 

Between September and December 2022, a survey concerning prior coronavirus infections, COVID-19 vaccinations and Post COVID symptoms was carried out as part of the German National Cohort.  Data from a total of 109,707 participants were evaluated. Sixty percent of those surveyed self-reported that they had been infected at least once with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Over 80 percent indicated they had received three vaccine doses or more against COVID-19.

The survey was carried out using an online questionnaire that also included a list of 21 symptoms. Thirty-five percent of those surveyed reported symptoms between 4 to 12 months after a coronavirus infection. Of these, 23 percent indicated a high symptom burden with nine or more symptoms. 

The data analysis showed that the risk of Post COVID decreased with newer virus variants: Post COVID symptoms were reported less frequently after an initial infection with the Omicron variant than after an initial infection with earlier virus variants. Additionally, people whose first infection had not resulted in post-COVID symptoms demonstrated a lower likelihood of developing post-COVID symptoms when infected a second time than those infected for the first time. 

With Omicron variant infections, having received a fourth vaccine dose against COVID-19 also reduced the risk of developing Post COVID.