Regarding the BMG Long COVID Initiative

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The scientific team of the IGeL-Monitor rates the two procedures under discussion, "blood washing" ("H.E.L.P.-Apheresis") and "Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy" for the treatment of Long COVID, each with "unclear". Why: No study data is available for the apheresis procedure. For hyperbaric oxygen therapy, one study was identified, however, it failed to yield a benefit.

IGeL Monitor: Benefits of H.E.L.P. apheresis ("blood washing") and hyperbaric oxygen therapy remain unclear

The IGeL Monitor is an institution of the Federal Medical Service. An interdisciplinary team from the fields of "evidence-based medicine" and public relations – supported by scientists from outside – analyses and evaluates so-called individual health services (IGeL), which are not covered by the statutory health insurance (GKV), for the sake of striking a balance between actual benefit and possible harm.

IGeL Monitor

Illustration: Doctor and young patient in conversation

For a lot of people, COVID-19 has become a thing of the past. Unfortunately however, others are still suffering from the long-term effects of the infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. COVID-19 has fortunately ceased to be a pressing issue for many people. However, some people are still suffering from the after-effects of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Long COVID still poses a challenge to medicine and science, as well as to our society as a whole. We have launched the BMG-Long COVID initiative to ensure that patients suffering from the virus and their relatives receive the best possible support. This website is intended to be a contact point for people affected by Long COVID who are looking for answers, insights and help.

Welcome to the website of the BMG Long COVID initiative

The Federal Ministry of Health is on the highest federal agencies of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has its head office or the first office in the city of Bonn and its second office in Berlin. The responsible Federal Minister in the Scholz cabinet is Prof Dr Karl Lauterbach of the SPD, from 8 December 2021.

Federal Ministry of Health

The question of how we in society should deal with Long COVID has occupied medicine, science, business and politics. Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach, Federal Minister of Health, therefore invites experts and those affected to a round table: On 12th September 2023, patients, representatives of patients, treatment providers, researchers, employers, insurers and political decision-makers will come together in Berlin to discuss the need for action to provide care for patients.

Federal Minister Lauterbach invites to the “Long COVID” Round Table

People sit in a circle made using curved tables

A recent study by the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Max Delbrück Center conducted research on people suffering from chronic fatigue after COVID-19 disease. For this purpose, the researchers collected various parameters from patients suffering from long COVID symptoms at several points in time over a period of 20 months.&nbsp;
Here is what the results revealed: People who develop chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) after their SARS-CoV-2 infection tend to remain severely ill for a long time. Their symptoms usually persist unchanged for up to 20 months. In contrast, there are people with similar symptoms who do not meet the criteria for ME/CFS. In most cases, their symptoms improve slowly over time.&nbsp;
The researchers also emphasise the importance of "pacing" as a way to manage persistent symptoms. Such strategies could help improve the quality of life of those suffering from the disease.&nbsp;

A new study by the Charité and the Max Delbrück Center: Findings on ME/CFS in patients affected by Long-COVID

The Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin is a world-renowned institution for medical research, education and high-performance medicine and one of the largest hospitals in Europe. It combines, both, university research and teaching in its medical faculty and care of patients in its university hospital. In the process, both, basic research and application-oriented research contiguous to the hospital are further developed through interdisciplinary networking. The Charité is responsible for the university education of the next generation of human and dental doctors and provides further education offers in the field of health sciences.

Charité University Medicine Berlin National Clinical Study Group

The Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (Max Delbrück Center) is one of 18 institutions of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres. It combines basic research in molecular biology with clinical research. The research teams aim to rapidly transfer findings into medical application.

Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (Max Delbrück Center) 

: Bildschirmaufnahme: Pressemitteilung Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin

In a study published in the journal "Nature Medicine", people who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 were followed up for two years. They were then tested against people without a proven SARS-CoV-2 infection (the so-called control group). The objective of this study was to investigate the mortality risk and various secondary diseases that occur after a SARS-CoV-2 infection.&nbsp;&nbsp;
It showed that the mortality risk was elevated over the two years in people who were hospitalised due to a severe progression of the disease in comparison to people who did not have to be hospitalised due to their infection. In addition, after hospitalisation for a severe progression, there was a higher rate of persistent sequelae in various organ systems.&nbsp;
Yet another study was published in the scientific journal JAMA International Medicine. Over a two-year period, the researchers followed more than 200,000 veterans who had previously contracted COVID-19. The data collected was compared with data from people who did not have COVID-19. Those with a mild progression (no hospitalisation) showed an increased risk of mortality only in the first six months after infection.&nbsp; &nbsp;
The results of the studies were summarised by the US cardiologist Eric J. Topol in his blog.&nbsp;
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New studies have investigated secondary diseases and mortality risk in patients who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2.

The Nature Medicine journal is published monthly by the Nature publishing group. It publishes articles on current topics in biomedical research geared towards scientists and those working in the medical profession.

Nature Medicine

JAMA Internal Medicine is a scientific journal published by the American Medical Association. It publishes original research relevant to internal medicine and related fields.

JAMA Internal Medicine

Eric J. Topol is a US cardiologist and author. He is Professor of Molecular Medicine, Executive Vice President of Scripps Research and Founder and Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. Topol has published over 1,300 scientific articles and three best-selling books on the future of medicine.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Eric J. Topol

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the USA announce the launch of new clinical studies. They do research on new therapies for the treatment of long COVID complaints. In the RECOVER-VITAL study, for example, a therapy with the drug Paxlovid is being researched. This is a possible therapeutic approach if SARS-CoV-2 viruses remain in the body even after the acute infection has ended. Another example is the RECOVER-NEURO study, in which therapies for impaired mental abilities are being researched, such as web-based training programmes. The RECOVER-SLEEP study aims to do research on possible therapies for sleep disturbances. Among other things, the RECOVER-AUTONOMIC study will do research on therapy for disorders of the circulatory system. A further study will focus on the treatment of stress intolerance and fatigue.
The studies are part of the NIH’s RECOVER (Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery) initiative. This is a national research programme in the USA. It aims to understand, prevent and treat long COVID. The following English-language website of the initiative provides extensive information about the programme:&nbsp; <a href="https://recovercovid.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://recovercovid.org/</a>&nbsp;

National Institute of Health: New clinical studies on long COVID therapies launched

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is headquartered in Bethesda (Maryland). It is part of the American Department of Health and Human Services, and encompasses 27 institutes and centres. These attend to basic medical research, clinical research and translational research. They research the causes of diseases, as well as possible treatments and medicines.&nbsp;

Die National Institutes of Health

The Deutsche Ärzteblatt was started in the year 1872. It is an official organ of the medical profession. It is published by the German Medical Association and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. It is published by the Cologne-based Deutsche Ärzteverlag GmbH, and is its highest-circulation publication.

Deutsches Ärzteblatt

A new offer of support is now available in Lower Saxony for those affected by long COVID. The Lower Saxony Ministry of Health, together with AOK and Hannover Medical School (MHH), has set up a telephone hotline that has been open for use from 1 August 2023. The hotline is intended to provide guidance and information about existing support services. It is also intended to show those affected that their health complaints are being taken seriously. The hotline also provides information about vaccination side effects.
Ill people, their relatives and employers can get advice from Monday to Friday, from 1000 hours to 1400 hours. The telephone number is (0511) 120 29 00.&nbsp;

New long COVID hotline in Lower Saxony

The Lower Saxony State Health Office is subordinate to the Lower Saxony Ministry for Social Affairs, Health and Equality. The State Health Office takes measures to prevent and combat diseases. It also advises the public health service, medical facilities (e.g. hospitals) and professional groups in the healthcare sector.

Niedersächsisches Landesgesundheitsamt

AOK stands for ‘Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse’. The AOK is made up of eleven independent regional health insurance companies spread across the whole of Germany. The AOK community with its eleven organisations makes a major contribution to statutory healthcare in Germany.

Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse (AOK)

The Hannover Medical School (MHH) is a university institution in Lower Saxony. The MHH combines more than 70 hospitals, institutes and research facilities on the campus. When it was founded, the MHH opted for the integration model, which is based on the following three pillars: medical care, research and education. The MHH treats 160,000 outpatients and more than 50,000 inpatients every year. As a supra-maximum medical care hospital, a wide range of treatment options is provided for patients, some of whom are seriously ill.

Hannover Medical School (MHH)

Bildschirmaufnahme: Beratungshotline Long COVID Niedersachsen

The new platform "Patient Feedback for Patient Safety" allows patients affected by Long COVID and medical professionals to share their respective experiences with Long COVID treatment anonymously and free of charge. To this end, it is possible to use telephone hotlines and also submit case reports online.&nbsp;&nbsp;
A team of experienced experts is dedicated to the evaluation and documentation of these reports. Results of the analyses and corresponding comments are published on the platform. In addition, where appropriate, recommendations are given on how reported risks could be minimised in the future.&nbsp;
The platform is funded by the Federal Ministry of Health as part of the "OptiCIRS" project. OptiCIRS is a project of the Techniker Krankenkasse, which is organised by the non-profit Deutsche Gesellschaft für Patientensicherheit gGmbH.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The “Patient Feedback for Patient Safety” platform goes viral

Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) is Germany's largest health insurance company with more than 11 million insured.&nbsp; It is a member of the Verband der Ersatzkassen (vdek). Since September 2016, the health insurance company has been operating under the name Die Techniker.&nbsp;

Techniker Krankenkasse (TK)

The non-profit German Society for Patient Safety works closely with medical professionals and is committed to implementing measures for patient safety. It carries out projects to research and improve patient safety. It works towards optimising the framework conditions of the health care system for patient safety.&nbsp;

German Society for Patient Safety

Bildschirmaufnahme: Plattform Patientenfeedback für Patientensicherheit 

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, more than 32,500 people across Germany have undergone medical long COVID rehabilitation. Deutsche Rentenversicherung reports an increase in applications over the last three years: In 2020, ca. 1,500 rehabilitations were carried out, in 2021 there were around 10,000, and in 2022 the number of rehabilitations was around 21,000.
Deutsche Rentenversicherung considers the increase in rehabilitation applications to be a positive development. This means that a large number of affected persons can be helped in a targeted manner. The scheduled services are tailored to the individual long COVID disease pattern in each case. Towards this end, doctors from various medical specialities are involved in the medical treatment. Such rehabilitation measures are designed to help patients return to their everyday and professional lives.

32,500 long COVID rehabilitations since the beginning of the pandemic

Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund (DRV) is the largest pension insurance provider in Germany. It also performs fundamental and cross-sectional tasks, including public relations work, research, statistics and the joint affairs of all pension insurance providers.

Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund

Bildschirmaufnahme: Post-COVID: Mit Reha neue Kraft tanken

Researchers at King's College London spent two years investigating how an infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus affects the cognitive performance of patients. Towards this end, the researchers compared people with and without an infection that had been overcome. To measure cognitive performance, the participants took two online tests, one in 2021 (3,335 participants) and one in 2022 (1,768 participants who had also taken the first online test). Among other things, their memory performance, attention and ability to concentrate were measured.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The results, which have now been published in the specialist journal e-ClinicalMedicine (part of The Lancet Discovery Science), show that people who contracted COVID-19 and made a full recovery had no measurable cognitive impairment two years later. A different picture emerged in patients who were still reporting complaints 12 weeks after the acute SARS-CoV-2 infection or whose complaints were particularly severe: Cognitive deficits following a SARS-CoV-2 infection were still detectable almost two years after the infection.&nbsp;

British study: Long COVID could affect brain function for over two years

King's College London is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the Russell Group, an association of the UK's most research-intensive universities. The humanities, law, social sciences and human science faculties are particularly highly respected internationally. The King's College Hospital (university hospital) is connected to the university. Clinical studies and patient care are carried out at King's College Hospital.&nbsp;

King’s College London 

The Lancet is one of the oldest and most prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals in the world. The peer review process is the most common procedure for checking the quality of articles before they are published in scientific journals. The articles are reviewed by independent experts in the field.&nbsp;

The Lancet

The Innovation Committee at the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) has selected a Charité research project on Long-COVID care research for funding.&nbsp;
The project called “LCovB - Improving the care situation of people affected by Long-COVID” aims to analyse the symptoms and current health care in detail. For this purpose, health insurance data is evaluated and standardised surveys are conducted with 200 affected people. Also, 15 severely ill people are to be interviewed in a structured manner and medically examined. Based on the results, the researchers plan to develop guidelines for people suffering from Long-COVID and for their primary care providers, mostly family doctors.

Charité research project on Long-COVID care research selected for funding by the Innovation Committee of the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA)

The Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) is the highest decision-making body of the joint self-administration of physicians, dentists, psychotherapists, hospitals and health insurance companies in Germany. Representatives of patient organisations have the right to submit proposals and to participate in consultations in all committees of the G-BA. The main task of the G-BA is to define the content of care in more detail in guidelines, and to decide which services are covered by the statutory health insurance. The G-BA also defines measures for quality assurance of medical care as well as requirements for structured treatment programmes (disease management programmes, DMPs for short) and evaluates the benefits of medicines with new active ingredients.

Joint Federal Committee (G-BA)

The Federal Minister Prof Dr Karl Lauterbach announces the start of the BMG Initiative on Long COVID in a press conference. This initiative shall contribute to the providing the populace with clarification on Long COVID. The new website www.bmg-longcovid.de offers information on the current knowledge and research as well as support and help offers for long haulers and their relatives. The website is also aimed at other groups involved with Long COVID, e.g., doctors, healthcare professionals, researchers, employers. A service phone for long haulers and their relatives supplements the offering. Here, you can primarily ask questions related to consultation and support offers.&nbsp;

The BMG Initiative on Long COVID: for everyone who would like to obtain information on COVID

есс-конференция, посвященная началу реализации инициативы BMG, демонстрирует министра Лаутербаха, г-жу Шейбенбоген и г-на Шиффера

WATCH –&nbsp;‘Mobile care close to home to manage cross-sector therapy for post-COVID-19 in Thuringia’ is the name of the new care and therapy study at Jena University Hospital. This is aided by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA).
The aim of the project is to improve the care structure and participation for long COVID patients in rural areas. Towards this end, a bus is being converted into a mobile post-COVID ambulance, the so-called PoCO bus. The bus enables those affected to be examined and cared for close to home..&nbsp;Those affected will complete 12 weeks of training units on concentration and attention (BRAIN module), phased rehabilitation sports programmes (BODY module) and behavioural-therapy-related therapy offers (SOUL module).
The first use of the bus is scheduled for 01.11.2023. The 624 affected persons who can take part in the study will be selected at random. In the long term, research is also being done into whether the procedure can be transferred to standard care.&nbsp;

Jena University Hospital launches WATCH care and therapy study for those affected by long COVID

Jena University Hospital (UKJ) is the largest hospital in the Free State of Thuringia. It is also where the Thuringian university medicine facility is located. The scientists at UKJ work on patient-related research and basic research. The university hospital offers scheduled high-performance medicine services, and thus ensures maximum care in the region.

Universitätsklinikum Jena 

From September 2023, Hannover Medical School (MHH) wants to help GPs in Lower Saxony to treat people affected by Long-COVID. For this purpose, a virtual rehabilitation clinic is to be set up, which will pool scientific findings and practical treatment knowledge into Long COVID. This telemedical offer includes, among other things, professional consultations and further training for practitioners. GPs can present their patients to the specialists at the MHH through interdisciplinary video consultations. GPs must register with the virtual clinic via the MHH in order to participate. The project is implemented by the Klinik für Rehabilitations- und Sportmedizin and the Institut für Allgemeinmedizin und Palliativmedizin and in cooperation with the Hausärzteverband Niedersachsen.

Hannover Medical School to support general practitioners with virtual clinic in future

Screen recording: Press release on the MHH website

Up to 36 million Europeans could have developed more prolonged health problems in the course of the past 3 years after a Corona virus infection. This is the estimate of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) cites the World Health Organization’s (WHO) regional director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, in a statement. According to him, Long COVID remains “[...] a complex condition we still know little about.”

Estimation: Up to 36 million Europeans could have developed Long COVID in the last three years

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations headquartered in Geneva. The constitution of the WHO lays down its purpose as helping all nations in attaining the best possible health standards. The WHO was founded on 7 April 1948; it proclaimed the right to health as a fundamental human right and today counts 194 member states on-board.

The World Health Organization (WHO)

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is a research institute working in the field of global health statistics and impact evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle. The institute’s functions include the evaluation of health initiatives and national health systems.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)

At their meeting in Japan, the health ministers of the G7 countries have agreed to carry out better research on Long COVID. To this end, a joint research initiative is to be created, which is to be concretised in the coming year 2024 under the Italian presidency.

G7 Health Ministers wish to strengthen Long-COVID research

Photo: G7 health ministers in a row on stage

The article explains how a COVID-19 disease can lead to exercise intolerance (post-exertional malaise, PEM), citing the example of a person affected. The author also discusses the pacing strategy for dealing with PEM and explains which aspects need to be considered in specific rehabilitation offers.

Radio report on Deutschlandfunk Kultur on exercise intolerance with Long COVID

Deutschlandfunk Kultur is the nationwide cultural programme of the national radio station.

Deutschlandfunk Kultur

In Rhineland-Palatinate, health experts met for a round table to discuss how people suffering from Long COVID can be better supported in a systematic way. By the summer of 2023, there should be a pilot structure as well as five anchor centres in order to be able to provide those affected with appropriate services more quickly.

Roundtable on Long COVID in Rhineland-Palatinate

SWR is the state broadcasting corporation of the states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. Its programme is intended to inform, educate, advise and entertain the citizens of these states, and specifically to offer input on culture. SWR was formed in 1998 as a merger of Süddeutscher Rundfunk and Südwestfunk.

The federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate was created in 1946 by uniting parts of Prussia - the south of the Rhine Province and the west of Hesse-Nassau - with the Bavarian administrative district of Palatinate and Rhine-Hesse. With around 4.1 million inhabitants, Rhineland-Palatinate ranks sixth among Germany's federal states in terms of the number of its inhabitants and ninth in terms of its area. With just under 220,000 inhabitants, the state capital Mainz is also the most populous city in the state. Other major centres are the regions around Ludwigshafen, Koblenz, Trier and Kaiserslautern.

Federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate

Researchers at University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein are investigating Long COVID and, in the course of the COVIDOM study, have developed a score to help doctors refer patients to the right specialist. The score is intended to help classify the patients' symptoms. For this purpose, twelve possible symptom areas were identified, to which a point value is assigned depending on the severity of the complaints. According to the researchers, what is new is that this score represents the entire spectrum of symptoms.
According to the first author of the study, Prof. Bahmer, this score makes it possible to "[...] objectively distinguish between different degrees of severity of PCS symptoms".

University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein develops "Post-Covid-Score"

The North German Broadcasting Corporation (NDR) is a joint state broadcasting corporation for the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. It is a member of the ARD and has the legal form of a non-profit institution under public law. Its programme is intended to inform, educate, advise and entertain the citizens of these states, and specifically to offer input on culture. The NDR State Treaty also notes the appropriate consideration of the diverse northern German regions and their culture and language in the programme.

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU) is the only comprehensive university in Schleswig-Holstein. It was founded in 1665 and is named after its founder, Duke Christian Albrecht of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf. The university has been home to seven Nobel Prize winners. Since 2006, the CAU has successfully participated in the Excellence Initiative. Kiel University offers the opportunity to learn a lot and interact with many people in more than 190 degree courses. In addition to classical subjects such as law and medicine, the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences are also catered for.

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU)

The University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) is a university hospital in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein with locations in Kiel and Lübeck. The UKSH is supported by the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU) and the Universität zu Lübeck. The students of the medical faculties and the dental faculty are educated at UKSH. The research foci of the Universities of Kiel and Lübeck at UKSH include the fields of "Infection and Inflammation", "Brain, Hormones, Behaviour", "Genetic Medicine" and "Age-dependent Mechanisms of the Manifestation of Disease", "Oncology", "Clinical Genome Research", "Neurosciences", "Endocrine Control and Regulation" and "Biomedical Technologies".

The University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) 

The research project <a href="/en/timeline/rki-research-project-post-acute-health-consequences-of-covid-19-gets-underway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Post-acute health consequences of COVID-19" led by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), which started in December 2021,</a> has published further results.
The project "Post-COVID-19 Monitoring in Routine Health Insurance Data" (POINTED) is coordinated by the Centre for Evidence-based Health Care (ZEGV) at the University Hospital Dresden and the RKI and is part of the research initiative "Post-acute health consequences of COVID-19".
In this sub-project, the researchers analysed data from the statutory health insurance funds (SHI) from January 2019 to June 2021. The researchers included a total of 641,704 patients with COVID-19. When comparing the frequency of newly diagnosed autoimmune diseases between the COVID-19 group and the corresponding control group, it was found that those suffering from COVID-19 had a 42.63% higher probability of developing an autoimmune disease. Those with a more severe course of COVID-19 had a higher risk of developing autoimmune disease.

Further results of a sub-project of the research project "Post-acute health consequences of COVID-19" have been published

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) is a federal institute in the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Health. The RKI is the central institution of the Federal Government in the field of disease surveillance and prevention and thus also the central institution of the Federal Government in the field of application and action-oriented biomedical research. The core tasks of the RKI include the detection, prevention and control of diseases, especially infectious diseases. It develops scientific findings as a basis for health policy making, advises the responsible federal ministries, notably the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), and informs the expert public and, to a greater extent, the population at large.

Robert Koch Institute (RKI)

The University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden is a maximum care hospital and part of the Technical University of Dresden. Until the end of 1993, the hospital formed the Dresden Medical Academy together with the Medical Faculty of the TU Dresden. The history of the faculty can be traced back to 1748, when the "Collegium medico chirurgicum" was founded in Dresden.
Today, Dresden University Hospital unites 26 clinics and polyclinics, six institutes and 17 interdisciplinary centres. Through cooperation with, for example, the Centre for Regenerative Therapies (CRTD), the Biotechnology Centre or the Max Planck Institute, medical research at the Dresden location also plays an important role on an international level.

University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden

A National Clinical Study Group (NKSG) is being established at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin to conduct the first clinical trials with drugs for the treatment of Long COVID and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with about ten million euros.

Charité launches clinical trial on Long COVID and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ME/CFS

The National Clinical Study Group (NKSG) is an interdisciplinary network of physicians and scientists with the aim of developing translational research and therapy studies for the treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID. The studies will be conducted at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint facility of Charité and the Max Delbrück Center, and at the Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology at Charité.

National Clinical Study Group (NKSG)

Photo: Charité building from the outside

The research project <a href="/en/timeline/rki-research-project-post-acute-health-consequences-of-covid-19-gets-underway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Post-acute health consequences of COVID-19" led by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), which started in December 2021,</a> has now published its first results.
The project "Post-COVID-19 Monitoring in Routine Health Insurance Data" (POINTED) is coordinated by the Centre for Evidence-based Health Care (ZEGV) at the University Hospital Dresden and the RKI and is part of the research initiative "Post-acute health consequences of COVID-19".&nbsp;
In one sub-project, the researchers analysed data from the statutory health insurance funds (SHI) from January 2019 to December 2020. The researchers identified a total of 157,134 people with a PCR-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis (including 11,950 children/adolescents and 145,184 adults) and compared them to a control group of people of the same age and gender and with similar pre-existing conditions without COVID-19. They recorded medical conditions documented by a doctor at least three months after the date of COVID-19 diagnosis. These results show that people of all ages are at risk for Long COVID and that the range of health problems varies between age groups.
&nbsp;A limitation of the study is that it is unclear whether the group that developed Long COVID differed from the control group in unobserved characteristics. Thus, it cannot be ruled out that these unobserved characteristics have an influence on the risk of developing Long COVID symptoms.

Sub-project of the research project "Post-acute health consequences of COVID-19" publishes results

Illustration: Hand of a person wearing a gown and protective glove while working with ampoules

In a study by Prof. Dr. Winfried Kern and his research group from the University Medical Centre Freiburg, a total of 12,053 adults were closely monitored for six to twelve months after suffering from a predominantly mild COVID-19 disease. The study, conducted in cooperation with several universities in southern Germany, shows that even twelve months after the acute phase of COVID-19 disease, a considerable burden of a number of different symptoms can still be present. For most symptoms, women showed a higher level of impairment than men. Despite methodological limitations (e.g. low participation rate, lack of control group), this study shows a considerable burden of post-acute symptom complexes: Fatigue and impairment of cognitive functions were observed most frequently, even in young and middle-aged adults.

Study on the long-term effects of COVID-19 published

The journal "The BMJ" is a medical scientific journal published by the BMJ Group (owned by the British Medical Association) in London. The magazine has been in existence since 1840 and is published weekly in English with a circulation of over 100,000 copies. The focus of the publications of "The BMJ" are articles and classifications from the field of evidence-based medicine. The journal is subject to strict peer review and is one of the most recognised and renowned journals in the scientific community.

&nbsp;The University Medical Centre Freiburg is the fourth largest hospital in Germany in terms of the number of physicians employed. The hospital was certified for the first time in 2005 and recertified in 2008 as one of the first university hospitals in Germany. Research foci at the University Hospital are immunology and infectiology, molecular cell research and regenerative medicine, epigenetics and functional genetics, neuroscience, oncology and functional imaging. The University Hospital is one of the most important locations for medical research in Germany. This is demonstrated, among other things, by the fact that in 2007, together with three other cancer clinics, it was awarded the title of Top Oncological Centre by the German Cancer Aid and has received continuous funding ever since.

University Medical Centre Freiburg

An evaluation by the Central Institute for Health Insurance Physicians (Zi) shows that some pre-existing conditions can increase the risk of Long COVID. However, people without pre-existing conditions can also develop Long COVID, although this is statistically less likely.

Connection between pre-existing conditions and Long COVID? Let us discuss the first conjectures

Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) is the state broadcasting corporation in the Free State of Bavaria with its headquarters in Munich. It is a member of the ARD (Working Group of the Public Service Broadcasters of the Federal Republic of Germany) and has the legal form of an institution under public law.

The comparative study by the Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance in Germany (Zi) was carried out on the basis of cross-insurance and nationwide statutory health insurance (SHI) billing data.
The Zi is a research institute in the legal form of a foundation under civil law. The sponsors of the foundation are the Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians and the Federal Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. As a central institution in the system of the Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, the Zi conducts research at the interface between science and practice on crucial questions of the outpatient care situation.

Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance in Germany (Zi) 

Experts from the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) explain which rehabilitation sport offers could help alleviate Long COVID symptoms. However, special caution is advised in the case of fatigue and exercise intolerance: Here, even the slightest exertion can lead to problems and aggravate complaints.

Rehabilitation sports for Long COVID – targeted exercise programmes could help those suffering from the disease

The German Sports Association for the Disabled (DBS) is the umbrella organisation within the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) for competitive, recreational, preventive and rehabilitation sports for people with disabilities and the National Paralympic Committee for Germany. With its 17 regional and two specialist associations, almost 6,300 clubs and around 510,000 members, the DBS is one of the world's largest sports associations for people with disabilities. The sports within the federation are organised in departments or specialist areas. The federal office is located in Frechen near Cologne.

German Sports Association for the Disabled (DBS)

Illustration: Rehab group exercising with exercise balls

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) clarifies the terms Long COVID and Post COVID on its Twitter channel.

RKI on Twitter: What is the difference between Long COVID and Post COVID?

Illustration: Screen capture of the RKI's tweet on smartphone

A review of existing studies on corona vaccination and Long COVID from the University Hospital Regensburg investigated the role of complete basic immunisation through vaccination against COVID-19 in preventing Long COVID or treating it subsequently. The researchers found indications that a complete basic immunisation could reduce the risk of developing late sequelae after a COVID-19 infection. Vaccination given after infection with COVID-19 could also modify existing symptoms. However, the researchers have not yet been able to determine a therapeutic treatment effect. The work was published in the journal "Die Innere Medizin" (Internal medicine).

A review paper from the University Hospital Regensburg reports on studies on the significance of COVID-19 vaccination in connection with Long COVID

The University Hospital Regensburg (UKR) focuses on high-performance medicine, especially in the fields of transplantation and immune medicine as well as oncological and cardiovascular diseases. National and international research projects are based at the UKR. The results of their work are incorporated directly into patient care. The central focus of research at the University Hospital Regensburg is on the one hand on the field of immunotherapy and on the other hand on the field of tumour research. The clinical and clinical-scientific focus at the University Hospital is transplantation medicine.

University Hospital Regensburg (UKR)

"Die Innere Medizin" is a medical journal published by Springer Medizin Verlag. It is dedicated to internists in private practice and in hospitals, as well as to practitioners with a special interest in internal medicine and general practitioners. The journal reaches about 40,000 readers, making it the largest German-language specialist journal. It is published in cooperation with the German Society of Internal Medicine and the Professional Association of German Internists and appears twelve times a year.

Internal Medicine

RKI publishes information portal on Long COVID

RKI publishes information portal on Long COVID

Screenshot: Website of the information portal of the RKI

Many recreational and even top athletes report still suffering from medical problems months after their COVID-19 disease. In this interview, Professor Bloch, head of the Institute for Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine at the Cologne Sports University, explains what he thinks should be taken into account when resuming physical activity after contracting COVID-19.
Patients suffering from permanent exhaustion (fatigue) and exercise intolerance should be cautious about exercise or training therapies. Depending on the severity of the exercise intolerance, the symptoms can worsen even after daily exertion. Constant exertion can also lead to a long-term or permanent worsening of the condition.

Sport after COVID-19 disease: What to watch out for?

Phoenix (spelled phoenıx) is a public television channel operated as a joint venture by the German public broadcasters ARD (Working Group of the Public Service Broadcasters of the Federal Republic of Germany) and ZDF. The ARD side is represented by WDR. The programme of the special-interest channel, which started out as an event, politics and documentation channel, consists of event broadcasts, news programmes, documentaries, reports and discussion programmes.

Phoenix

Univ. Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Bloch is head of the Institute for Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine at the Cologne Sports University. Bloch's research focuses on the medical and cell biological adaptation of tissues and organs to physical exertion. Among other things, he also deals with the effects of physical exercise on cancer patients, interval training as a means of slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis, the effects of anabolic steroids on the heart and mitochondrial adaptation processes through endurance training.

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Bloch

The Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) will from now on publish the latest and reliably tested findings on Long COVID on a website. The information offered is geared towards affected persons, relatives, employees, employers and interested parties.

Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA): New information portal educates about Long COVID

Since its foundation in 1967, the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) has been pursuing the goal of preventing health risks and supporting health-promoting lifestyles. It is tasked with developing principles and guidelines for the content and methods of practical health education, training and further education of those working in the field of health education and information, coordinating and strengthening health information and health education in Germany, and cooperating with other countries.

Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA)

Screenshot: Website of information portal

In this interview, Olympic doctor Prof. Dr. Bernd Wolfarth explains what he thinks is important when resuming sport and exercise after suffering from COVID-19. He also discusses Long COVID in the context of sport and ways to integrate those affected into training groups.
Patients suffering from permanent exhaustion (fatigue) and exercise intolerance should be cautious about exercise or training therapies. Depending on the severity of the exercise intolerance, the symptoms can worsen even after daily exertion. Constant exertion can also lead to a long-term or permanent worsening of the condition.

An Olympic doctor shares his experiences with sport and exercise after a corona disease

The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), the non-governmental umbrella organisation of German sport, was founded on 20 May 2006 through the merger of the German Sports Confederation and the National Olympic Committee for Germany. The patron of the DOSB is the German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The DOSB has more than 27 million members in around 87,000 sports clubs. It is the largest citizens' movement in Germany.

German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB)

"Gesund in Sportdeutschland" (A healthy approach to sport in Germany) is a DOSB podcast with content aimed at athletes and those interested in sport. It is published monthly and is hosted by the journalist Paul Burba.

Gesund in Sportdeutschland

Prof. Dr. med. Bernd Wolfarth is a specialist in internal medicine/sports medicine and heads the Department of Sports Medicine at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Since 2019, he has also been President of the German Society for Sports Medicine and Prevention (DGSP). Since his appointment in 2011, he has gained recognition as the DOSB's chief Olympic physician for summer and winter games.

Prof. Dr. med. Bernd Wolfarth

Photo: Portrait shot of Olympic team doctor with the federal eagle emblem on the jacket

With the website and the portal of the Long COVID Networking Centre, the Federal Association for Self-Help (BAG SELBSTHILFE) regularly offers up-to-date, quality-assured information on the state of research as well as on therapy and rehabilitation options for Long COVID. It also helps those affected to find suitable self-help offers and enables networking between different actors.

New portal of the Long COVID networking centre of BAG SELBSTHILFE

The Long COVID Networking Centre supports people with Long COVID and those who are committed to improving Long COVID treatment. It provides up-to-date information on Long COVID and the opportunity for networking and exchange. The Long COVID networking centre is funded by the German Pension Insurance Association.
The Federal Association for Self-Help (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft SELBSTHILFE, BAG SELBSTHILFE) represents the interests of chronically ill and disabled people and their relatives in politics and society - and works to promote the self-help movement in Germany. As an umbrella organisation according to § 140f of the German Social Code, Book V, BAG SELBSTHILFE coordinates patient participation in health policy committees on behalf of all relevant self-help organisations.

 Federal Association for Self-Help (BAG)

Screenshot: Website of the portal BAG SELBSTHILFE

A rehabilitation sports group from Grünstadt (TSG Grünstadt) is piloting whether exercise programmes for people affected by Long COVID can help them cope with the symptoms. Preliminary findings indicate the following: A mix of breathing, relaxation and sports exercises could prove helpful. However, the sense of community also plays an important role in the well-being of those affected.
Patients suffering from permanent exhaustion (fatigue) and exercise intolerance should be cautious about exercise or training therapies. Depending on the severity of the exercise intolerance, the symptoms can worsen even after daily exertion. Constant exertion can also lead to a long-term or permanent worsening of the condition.

Does exercise help with Long COVID? Rehab sports group tests exercise programmes for people affected by Long COVID.

TSG Grünstadt emerged from the "Turnverein 1861". Today, the TSG has over 2,000 members in 15 departments. In addition, TSG Grünstadt offers a rehabilitation sports programme for those suffering from Long-COVID, which is supported by the statutory health insurance funds. The Long-COVID sports programmes are now also certified by the German Disabled Sports Association.

TSG Grünstadt

Südwestrundfunk (SWR) is a federal state broadcasting company for the states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. SWR was formed in 1998 as a merger of Süddeutscher Rundfunk and Südwestfunk. It operates from three main locations: Baden-Baden, Mainz and Stuttgart, with the latter serving as the administrative headquarters.

Illustration: The hands of several people in a rehab sport activity

In its survey of 338 rehabilitation facilities, the Long COVID inventory survey comes to the conclusion that 2/3 of them have sufficient capacities and the personnel, spatial, technical-apparatus and professional prerequisites for Long COVID rehabilitation. According to the survey, most of them received a therapeutic placement after a waiting period of about five weeks.

Inventory survey: Long COVID in medical rehabilitation

The Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft für Rehabilitation e. V. (Federal Working Group for Rehabilitation). (BAR) is the association of rehabilitation providers and promotes the participation of people with disabilities in the social benefit system. The BAR coordinates and supports the cooperation and knowledge transfer of the rehabilitation providers. It also works on the further development of rehabilitation and participation. Its members are the statutory pension, health and accident insurance providers, the Federal Employment Agency, the Federal States, the Federal Association of Integration Offices and Main Welfare Centres, the Federal Association of Local Social Welfare Providers, the Federal Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians and the social partners.

Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft für Rehabilitation (BAR) e.V. (Federal Working Group for Rehabilitation (BAR) )

Illustration: Hard copy of the report on stocktaking

A review paper summarises, among other things, the results of studies on the frequency of Long COVID in children and adolescents. According to the review, initial studies show that about 2 to 3.5 % of children and adolescents who previously had COVID-19 and were mainly treated as outpatients could develop Long COVID symptoms. Overall, however, the data situation is rather fragmented. The work was done jointly by the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (USA) and published in the journal Public Health Reviews.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) also reports on the latest findings on Long COVID in general and also on Long COVID in children and adolescents on<a href="https://www.rki.de/SharedDocs/FAQ/NCOV2019/FAQ_Liste_Gesundheitliche_Langzeitfolgen.html#FAQId16065740" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> its website</a>.

New findings on Long COVID in children and adolescents

Public Health Reviews is an independent journal published by the non-profit Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+) that focuses on developments in public health. The journal publishes comprehensive overview articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, commentaries and other scientific contributions written by experts in the field of public health.

Public Health Reviews

The University of Zurich (UZH for short) is the largest university in Switzerland. As a comprehensive university, it unites all the classical faculties under its roof: Theology, Law, Economics, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Philosophy and Mathematics/Natural Sciences.

University of Zurich

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, ETH Zurich for short, is a technical and scientific university in Zurich. ETH Zurich is integrated into the ETH Domain, which comprises the Technical University in Zurich and the one in Lausanne as well as four other research institutes: Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa) and Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag).

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

The project led by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) aims to better assess the burden of disease and the need for care in connection with Long COVID. The primary aim is to identify the medical and psychosocial care needs in adults and in children and adolescents in connection with Long COVID and how outpatient general practitioner and paediatric care can be aligned to meet these needs.

RKI research project "Post-acute health consequences of COVID-19" gets underway

Stock image: Woman in white lab coat working with blood samples on a medical device

The doctors' association Long COVID is born under the patronage of Health Minister Karl Lauterbach on the initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG). The association is tasked with researching and advancing the clinical picture of Long COVID and the needs-based care of patients. The association, which was founded on 20 December 2021, is composed of experts and physicians from various disciplines.

Foundation of the Long COVID doctors' association

The primary task of the Long COVID Doctors' Association is to research the long-term effects of COVID-19, to make knowledge available in a centralised manner and to promote the establishment of care facilities in order to improve the treatment of Long COVID patients.

Long COVID Medical Association

The self-help group Long COVID Germany has opened a Twitter channel to actively promote research, education and Long COVID care services on the social network.

Long COVID Deutschland (LCD) on Twitter

The Long COVID Deutschland Initiative is a nationwide association of affected persons and relatives with diverse professional and specialist backgrounds. Among them are also doctors and nursing staff who are affected by Long COVID themselves. The members demand better medical care, more funding for clinical research and the development of biomedical therapies. Since May 2020, the team has also been running the support group Long COVID Germany on Facebook.

Twitter @LongDeutschland

The guideline of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF) is dedicated to the treatment of patients with Long COVID. (AWMF) is geared towards professionals treating patients with Long COVID. It provides information about the symptoms of the disease and conveys know-how for an appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. The contents of the guideline are continuously updated with the growing state of knowledge.

BMG Long COVID Initiative