A recent protest in Berlin, Germany highlighted the growing concern over long Covid, particularly among women. Activist Ricarda Piepenhagen, who suffers from long Covid symptoms, gathered with others outside the Reichstag to demand more government-funded research on the condition. Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a condition common among those with long Covid, was also a focal point of the demonstration.
Research has shown that women are at a higher risk of developing long Covid compared to men. A study published in JAMA found that women are 1.31 times more likely to experience long Covid than men, with hormonal levels potentially playing a role in this disparity. The study also noted that conditions like ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, which are more prevalent in women, may be linked to alterations in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Globally, over 65 million people have been diagnosed with long Covid, but experts believe that the condition is still under-diagnosed. Studies have shown that women, particularly those without a college education, are at a higher risk of developing long Covid. Research on over 12,000 adults who tested positive for Covid-19 revealed that women had a significantly higher risk of long Covid compared to men.
The implications of these findings are significant, with researchers suggesting that sex-based therapies, such as those involving sex steroids, may help mitigate long Covid symptoms in females. Understanding the role of factors like aging, hormones, inflammatory response, and comorbidities is crucial in identifying which groups may benefit from specific treatments for long Covid.