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This guest article by Ricarda Piepenhagen, founder of the patient organisation NichtGenesen (NotRecovered), addresses the healthcare requirements of patients affected by Long COVID, ME/CFS and Post-Vac syndrome. It describes the challenges that the patients themselves have to face, as well as the challenges posed to science, medicine and society as a whole, from the point of view of those affected by post-infectious diseases.

Research, treatment and recognition for people with ME/CFS and post-infectious syndromes

Ricarda Piepenhagen is the founder of the patient organisation NichtGenesen. The patient organisation represents the interests of those affected by Long/post-COVID, ME/CFS and Post-Vac syndrome, as well as those affected by post-infectious syndrome (PAIS) in general. The guest article highlights historical parallels, explains the situation of patients affected and highlights the urgent need for action from the patient's perspective.

Guest article Ricarda Piepenhagen

Das Bild zeigt ein Portraitfoto von Ricarda Piepenhagen, Gründerin der Patientenorganisation NichtGenesen

On 10.02.2025, the German Federal Ministry of Health launched a coordination network for Long COVID research by hosting the first meeting of the 30 projects selected for the funding priority ‘Researching and strengthening needs-based healthcare for the long-term consequences of COVID-19 (Long COVID)’.&nbsp;
Projects with a total volume of 73 million euros were approved for the ongoing 2024 to 2028 funding priority for care-related research. 30 projects were awarded funding as part of a competitive selection process and have now started work. The funding priority is divided into several modules, which will be dedicated to integrated or coordinated healthcare, innovations in healthcare (e.g. wearables) and research into the healthcare situation and disease progression.
The event also featured a soon-to-be-launched network of model projects for the healthcare of children and adolescents with Long COVID.
The aim of the networks is to develop and share research findings on the treatment of Long COVID, including ME/CFS, so that they can be incorporated into healthcare in a timely manner. Similarly, data from healthcare should also be shared with the researchers.&nbsp;
A coordination centre based at the ‘Technology and Methods Platform for Networked Medical Research e. V.’ (TMF) is tasked with coordinating the funded projects.&nbsp;

Launch of the German Federal Ministry of Health's Long COVID research network

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

Ein Konferenzraum mit einer großen rechteckigen Tischanordnung, an der zahlreiche Personen sitzen. Ein Redner steht vorne neben einer Leinwand und hält eine Präsentation mit einer Folie, die Informationen zum Forschungsnetzwerk Long COVID zeigt.

After being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, some of the patients develop myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).&nbsp; This disease is typically characterised by severe fatigue, which impairs day-to-day functioning severely and in some cases leaves the patients in need of care. Viral infections are a known causative agent of ME/CFS.
The RECOVER Initiative has now analysed data of total 11,785 people who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, and has published this data in the Journal of General Internal Medicine (JGIM). The analysis has revealed that: Around 5 out of 100 people were still suffering from severe physical and mental fatigue 6 months after the infection and met the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS. Around 40 out of 100 people had symptoms similar to ME/CFS or fulfilled at least one criterion for ME/CFS. In contrast, approximately 56 out of 100 people reported no symptoms that were typical of ME/CFS. It should be noted that the data is based on self-assessments by those affected and may therefore reflect subjective variations. Post-exertional malaise (PEM) was reported as the most common ME/CFS symptom. In PEM, symptoms worsen after physical or mental activity. Nearly a quarter of the total people previously infected by SARS-CoV-2 were reported to be affected. &nbsp;

New study results on the incidence of ME/CFS after SARS-CoV-2 infection

The RECOVER Initiative was launched by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the USA. It is a national research programme designed to better understand, prevent and treat Long COVID.&nbsp;

RECOVER Initiative

The Journal of Infection is the official journal of the British Infection Association. This Journal publishes original works on various topics surrounding infection. Its target audience includes scientists and physicians.

Journal of Infection

The RECOVER Initiative has revised the research definition for Long COVID. This definition differs from a classic case definition, as it was developed for research and not for diagnosis by doctors. A standardised definition of Long COVID in research is important, among other things, so such studies can be conducted in a more uniform manner and be better compared with each other.&nbsp;
The revised research definition includes data from a total of 13,647 adults with and without previous infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The so-called ‘Long COVID Research Index’ of 2024 translates the existing symptoms of the individuals into a score. On the basis of this value, a probable Long COVID disease and a possible Long COVID disease can then be differentiated.&nbsp;
Based on the data, the researchers were able to differentiate between 5 different forms (‘subtypes’) of Long COVID, each with its own characteristic symptoms. In subtype 1, the focus is on changes in odour or taste. Subtype 2 is characterised by a chronic cough. Subtype 3 describes reduced mental performance (‘brain fog’) as a characteristic symptom. People with subtype 4 suffer from a clearly noticeable, faster or irregular heartbeat. Subtype 5 includes people with pain after physical exertion, dizziness and gastrointestinal symptoms. Subtypes 2 to 5 also include fatigue and discomfort after exercise. Subtype 5 shows overlaps with myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The application of the revised research definition in clinical studies should help to better take into account the complexity of the pattern of illness and the differences between different patient groups.

New research definition for Long COVID

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) is the most widely read medical journal in the world. It is published 48 times a year by the American Medical Association.

JAMA

In 2024, the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) established a funding priority on “investigation and strengthening of needs-based care addressing the long-term health effects of COVID-19 (Long COVID)”. In this context, the BMG has a total of up to 81 million euros at its disposal (from 2024 to 2028) to fund patient-oriented research into Long COVID. In a competitive application process, 30 projects launching late 2024 or early 2025 were selected for funding.
A list of the projects funded can be found on the <a href="https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/ministerium/ressortforschung/handlungsfelder/forschungsschwerpunkte/long-/post-covid.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BMG’s website</a>.
This patient-oriented funding on Long COVID will focus particularly on pilot projects that develop and test innovative types of treatment for people with Long COVID. A network will be created to encourage knowledge exchange, initiate care research and thus improve the care of those affected. The aim is for research findings that can inform the treatment of Long COVID, including ME/CFS associated with Long COVID, to be translated as soon as possible into patient care and, conversely, for data from healthcare to be made available to researchers.

Launch of 30 projects on patient-oriented care

On 25 November 2024, the Third Long COVID Congress was held in Berlin. In his speech, Federal Minister of Health Prof. Dr Karl Lauterbach made a powerful statement: “People’s quality of life is severely compromised (...) which is why we need to intensify our research efforts. Our care structure – which is what this congress is about – is anything but perfect”.
The congress was hosted by the Long COVID Medical Association (Ärzte- und Ärztinnenverband Long COVID) in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Health. The event offered a platform for exchange between professionals, patients with Long COVID, their relatives and representatives of self-help groups and initiatives. At the same time, it served to provide further training to professionals. About 260 guests participated in the event. In eight different rooms, participants discussed research projects and findings, diagnostic procedures and treatment approaches for Long COVID, focussing on topics such as the psychosocial and ethical aspects of the syndrome, treatment options or paediatric care.&nbsp;In addition, a workshop was conducted on how to improve care for children and adolescents with Long COVID.

Third Long COVID Congress in Berlin

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

Long COVID Medical Association (Ärzte- und Ärztinnenverband Long COVID)

Bundesgesundheitsminister Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach spricht am Rednerpult bei der Eröffnung des 3. Long-COVID-Kongresses in Berlin. Im Hintergrund ist eine Leinwand mit dem Titel seines Vortrags zu sehen: "Bedeutung von Long COVID und anderen postinfektiösen Erkrankungen aus gesundheitspolitischer Sicht". Neben ihm stehen zwei weitere Personen an einem Podiumstisch, während die Zuhörerinnen und Zuhörer aufmerksam folgen.

Bundesgesundheitsminister Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach eröffnet den 3. Long-COVID-Kongress in Berlin mit einem Impuls zur gesundheitspolitischen Bedeutung von Long COVID und anderen postinfektiösen Erkrankungen.

The ‘POSCOR’ research project at the University Hospital of Würzburg, a digital support project for people with Long COVID, has been extended until 31.12.2025 as part of the ‘Post COVID Syndrome Funding Initiative’ of the Bavarian State Ministry of Health, Care and Prevention. The app helps those suffering from the condition to apply for rehab more quickly and easily in order to cut down the waiting time for a suitable rehab place. The app also provides those suffering with information on how they can manage their symptoms better and actively contribute to improving their quality of life. The programme is open to people between 18 and 64 years of age with a Long COVID diagnosis who have statutory pension insurance with DRV Nordbayern. As part of the ‘Bavarian Post COVID Network’, the project was presented at a network meeting at the Bavarian State Ministry of Health, Care and Prevention in Munich on 29.11.2024.&nbsp;

Get to rehab faster: POSCOR’ research project extended

The University Hospital of Würzburg is the hospital of the Medical Faculty of the Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg. As the only max-care hospital in Lower Franconia, it comprises 19 clinics with university outpatient clinics, three independent university outpatient clinics and three clinical institutes. With a total of approx. 1,400 beds and over 7,000 employees, it treats around 75,000 inpatients and day-case patients and over 290,000 outpatients every year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

University Hospital of Würzburg

Das Foto zeigt die Teilnehmenden des bayerischen Netzwerks Post COVID im Bayerischen Staatsministerium für Gesundheit, Pflege und Prävention in München.

The updated patient guideline on “<a href="https://register.awmf.org/de/leitlinien/detail/020-027" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Long/Post COVID Syndrome</a>” has been available online since the end of September 2024. The revised guideline aims to serve as guidance and provide those affected as well as their relatives and loved ones with an overview of the syndrome. The guideline not only contains comprehensive information about the individual symptoms and their treatment, but also provides information about support services. In addition, it gives recommendations on what those affected can do by themselves to alleviate their symptoms.
A total of 29 medical societies as well as several patient organisations contributed to the guideline. It was compiled under the leadership of the German Respiratory Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin e.V.). The guideline is the patient edition of the S1 guideline “Long/Post COVID”, which is addressed to physicians and other medical professionals.

Revised “Long/Post COVID Syndrome” patient guideline published

The German Respiratory Society e.V. is the largest and oldest medical society for lung diseases within the German-speaking countries. It sees itself as a forum for all physicians, scientists and academics working in the field of pulmonary medicine (pneumology).

German Respiratory Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin e.V.)

The Association of the Scientific Medical Societies e.V. (AWMF) is an umbrella organisation made up of 184 medical societies. The AWMF’s responsibilities include coordinating the development of medical guidelines for diagnosis and treatment in the different fields of medicine. Guidelines contain specific recommendations for action targeted at physicians, other medical professionals and patients. The guidelines always consider state-of-the-art scientific evidence.

Association of the Scientific Medical Societies (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften e.V. – AWMF)

The Federal Ministry of Health is working intensively to address Long COVID in children and adolescents. In this context, a new participation format was initiated to collect insights into the lives of children and adolescents with Long COVID and their relatives. The aim: to identify healthcare, information and support needs and discuss possible solutions that could help those affected. People with Long COVID, their relatives, professionals who encounter those affected in their working life as well as other people who are interested in the topic are very welcome to participate in the survey and the workshops.

Participation format launched on Long COVID in children and adolescents

Das Foto zeigt ein Flipchart mit mehreren Notizen. Im Hintergrund mehrere Personen zu sehen, die alle um einen Tisch herum verteilt sind und gemeinsam arbeiten. 

To help improve the care of patients with Long COVID, the expert group on Long COVID Off-Label Use, which is located at the Federal Institute of Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), developed a <a href="https://www.bfarm.de/DE/Arzneimittel/Zulassung/Zulassungsrelevante-Themen/Expertengruppe-Long-COVID-Off-Label-Use/_node.html#therapiekompass" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Treatment Compass</a> that provides an overview of appropriate substances and substance groups. In particular, the Compass provides treatment recommendations regarding the use of medicinal products in their approved indications to treat symptoms associated with Long COVID. That means, these prescription-only medicinal products can be prescribed and used ‘on-label’ in the indications for which they are approved.&nbsp;However, this experience-based Treatment Compass is not a substitute for evidence-based off-label use recommendations regarding the specific treatment of Long COVID. The evaluation of scientific evidence on the off-label use of medicinal products remains one of the central tasks of the Expert Group on Long COVID Off-Label Use.

Publication of Treatment Compass

The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) is an independent higher federal authority within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Health.&nbsp;The&nbsp;BfArM’s core tasks include the licensing and registration of medicinal products, recording and assessment of risks related to medical devices, monitoring of the legal trade in narcotics and precursors as well as the publication of medical coding systems for the healthcare sector.

Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte)

Experts, patient advocacy groups and relevant public health stakeholders came together with Federal Minister of Health Prof. Dr Karl Lauterbach on 17 September 2024 in Berlin to exchange their views on the latest developments in the field of Long COVID. This time around, the discussions mainly focussed on the latest research findings, the current situation in care, new healthcare research projects of the Innovation Fund as well as the work of the Expert Group on Long COVID Off-Label Use. The Federal Ministry of Health previously hosted Long COVID round tables in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bmg-longcovid.de/en/discourse/long-covid-round-table/long-covid-round-table-september-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">September 2023</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bmg-longcovid.de/en/discourse/long-covid-round-table/2nd-long-covid-round-table-december-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">December 2023</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bmg-longcovid.de/en/discourse/long-covid-round-table/long-covid-round-table-april-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">April 2024</a> with the aim of improving networking among all parties involved.

Fourth “Long COVID Round Table” at the Federal Ministry of Health

Das Foto zeigt Bundesgesundheitsminister Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach im Rahmen des vierten Runden Tisches zu Long 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.&nbsp;
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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp;
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.&nbsp;
With Omicron variant infections, having received a fourth vaccine dose against COVID-19 also reduced the risk of developing Post COVID.&nbsp;

Research team evaluates risk factors for Post COVID

As a maximum care provider, the University Medicine Halle combines the Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg with the University Hospital Halle (Saale). Its primary focus is on research, education and healthcare.

University Medicine Halle

The German National Cohort is the largest long-term study researching common diseases in Germany. Since 2014, as part of this study over 205,000 randomly selected people have undergone repeated comprehensive medical examinations and are asked about their lifestyle habits. The study data contributes towards prevention and personal healthcare.

German National Cohort (NAKO Gesundheitsstudie)

As part of the RECOVER Initiative, a US study with more than 10,000 participants searched for a suitable value that could be used to reliably detect Long COVID in the blood (‘biomarker’). However, none of the 25 routine laboratory values tested proved to be a suitable biomarker.&nbsp;
8,746 of the participants had already been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. 21.5 per cent of them reported Long COVID symptoms. Among other things, it was investigated whether the laboratory values of the participants with Long COVID symptoms differed from those without long-term symptoms following infection. However, there were no significant differences found between the two groups.
There was evidence of persistent inflammation in the blood of participants with long-term COVID symptoms. A generally higher number of platelets (thrombocytes) and a higher level of a certain inflammatory marker (hsCRP) were measured. However, these values are not suitable as biomarkers for Long COVID.
Irrespective of Long COVID symptoms, participants with a previous infection with the coronavirus had a higher albumin-creatinine ratio in their urine. This value is associated with kidney function and cardiovascular disease. In addition, participants with previous infection had slightly fewer platelets (thrombocytes) in their blood. In addition, people in this group had a higher long-term blood glucose level (HbA1C), which is also elevated in diabetes. There is already evidence from other studies that infection with the coronavirus can contribute to a higher risk of diabetes. However, the differences compared to participants without prior infection were overall minor. None of the analysed values could be used to detect Long COVID.

Long COVID still undetectable by laboratory value

The journal Annals of Internal Medicine is published by the American College of Physicians and the American Heart Association. It is an ‘Open Access Journal’ and its articles are freely accessible on the Internet.&nbsp;

Annals of Internal Medicine

Children and adolescents can also develop Long COVID. However, according to the results of the US RECOVER Initiative, some of the symptoms appear to be different from those of adults. Last year, the research project had already reported on various symptom clusters in adults. The symptoms of those suffering can differ from one another. Among people with Long COVID, different groups with similar symptom patterns can be distinguished, i.e. different symptom clusters. These clusters can facilitate the diagnosis of Long COVID. In August, the research group published results on children and adolescents in the JAMA journal. In total, the legal guardians of 898 children and 4,469 adolescents were surveyed. Of these, 751 children and 3,109 adolescents had been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus more than a year ago on average.&nbsp;
The research team found 4 different symptom clusters in school-age children. One cluster focussed on headaches, pain in muscles, joints and other parts of the body as well as daytime tiredness, sleepiness or lack of energy. Children in another symptom cluster mainly suffered from sleep disorders and memory or concentration problems. Another group was characterised by stomach pain and nausea or vomiting. A fourth cluster was made up of children with a heavy symptom burden with many different symptoms.
The research team found 3 different symptom clusters for adolescents. In one cluster, daytime tiredness, sleepiness or lack of energy as well as pain in muscles, joints and other parts of the body were frequently reported. In another cluster, the focus was on a change in or loss of the sense of smell or taste. A third group also reported a heavy symptom burden with many different symptoms.
According to the researchers, the results of the study can contribute to the diagnosis of Long COVID in children and adolescents.

According to study, Long COVID symptoms in children and adolescents are sometimes different to those in adults

Long COVID continues to be a major concern for many people. According to a statement from the Lower Saxony Ministry of Health, current estimates suggest that around 5 to 10 per cent of all people develop Long COVID after being infected with the coronavirus. Information on the exact number of those suffering is still difficult to obtain.
The AOK Lower Saxony has analysed its insurance data in relation to Long COVID: In the period from March 2020 to December 2023, 12,300 of the almost 800,000 employees with continuous AOK insurance were on sick leave at least once due to the long-term effects of COVID-19. In 2023 however, there were significantly fewer sick notes due to Post-COVID, long-term COVID or chronic fatigue syndrome than in previous years.&nbsp;
In Lower Saxony, a counselling hotline has been open since August 2023 run by the state government and AOK Niedersachsen. The state also has two outpatient clinics for Long COVID and Post-COVID patients at Hannover Medical School and Göttingen University Medical Centre. The aim of these outpatient clinics is to provide interdisciplinary treatment as early as possible, particularly for patients with severe chronic fatigue or prolonged absence from work, training and school.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Many people continue to be under strain from Long COVID

With more than 3 million insured persons, AOK Niedersachsen is the largest health insurance company in Lower Saxony. It therefore makes a major contribution to statutory healthcare in Lower Saxony.&nbsp;&nbsp;

AOK Niedersachsen

The Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, Health and Equality in Lower Saxony is a supreme state authority. It is one of ten ministries in the state government of Lower Saxony.

Lower Saxony Ministry for Social Affairs, Labour, Health and Equality:

A new telephone counselling service has been in place in North Rhine-Westphalia since 1 July 2024. The service provided by the state and Deutsche Rentenversicherung Westfalen is aimed at people with Long and Post-COVID, chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) or prolonged symptoms following a COVID-19 vaccination. The hotline 0800/2381000 is active Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Those suffering often face considerable difficulties in everyday life. At the same time, they lack the strength to find suitable offers of help. The hotline gives them and their relatives the opportunity to obtain low-threshold independent and free advice on various aspects of social law. This includes health insurance benefits and topics such as rehabilitation, pensions, care and reintegration. Furthermore, employers can obtain information about support services. Medical counselling is not offered.

New counselling service for those suffering in NRW

The Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs (MAGS) of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia is a supreme state authority. It is one of eleven ministries in the administration of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.&nbsp;

Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs (MAGS) of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia

The German Pension Insurance of Westphalia is the statutory pension insurance provider for over 4.2 million insured persons.&nbsp;

German Pension Insurance of Westphalia

The German Bundestag has released 52 million euros for care of children and adolescents who have Long COVID. The resources should establish and expand the treatment programmes in the federal territory as well as promote research projects for children and adolescents with Long COVID in the period from 2024 to 2028. The Federal Ministry of Health had earlier presented a concept for a funding announcement, prepared together with subject matter experts as well as stakeholders, to the budget committee.&nbsp; This funding announcement, specifically for children and adolescents with Long COVID is currently being developed and shall soon be published.

52 million euros for care of children and adolescents with Long COVID

Researchers at Charité Berlin have examined a link between the hand grip strength and severity of symptoms in persons suffering from post COVID and ME/CFS. The measurement of individual hand grip strength is used for the medical diagnosis of a physical decline in performance.&nbsp;
The study by Charité Berlin included 144 female patients with post COVID, 78 of whom are affected by ME/CFS. The hand grip strength was impaired in all study participants, but only in participants with ME/CFS was the degree of impairment associated with severity of symptoms. This suggests a common mechanism for muscle weakness and other symptoms experienced by persons suffering from ME/CFS, but not found in other forms of post COVID. According to the study, impaired hand grip strength is an objective marker of physical function in post COVID patients.&nbsp;

A study conducted by Charité examines hand grip strength as an objective measure of muscle fatigue in persons with post 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

On 16 April 2024, the third Long COVID round table was held in Berlin, continuing the dialogue on the improvement of care for those affected by Long COVID. Once again, Federal Minister of Health Prof. Dr Karl Lauterbach invited experts from the fields of medicine, science, industry and politics as well as patient advocacy groups to discuss current developments. This time, the focus was on the Federal Joint Committee’s (G-BA) new Long COVID directive, the promotion of patient-oriented research by the BMG, the planned measures to improve care for children and adolescents with Long COVID as well as the work of the expert group on Long COVID Off-Label Use. Following the first two Long COVID round tables in <a href="https://www.bmg-longcovid.de/en/discourse/long-covid-round-table/long-covid-round-table-september-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">September 2023</a> and <a href="https://www.bmg-longcovid.de/en/discourse/long-covid-round-table/2nd-long-covid-round-table-december-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">December 2023</a>, the third round table once again provided a space for sharing interdisciplinary ideas and solutions.

The BMG hosted the third Long COVID round table

Das Foto zeigt Bundesgesundheitsminister Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach im Rahmen des dritten Runden Tisches

The Federal Ministry of Health is establishing a funding priority on “investigation and strengthening of needs-based care addressing the long-term health effects of COVID-19 (Long COVID)”. The funding will be used for the development of novel and transferable care approaches and their integration into existing services, the generation of knowledge and networking of skills in the quest to sustainably enhance the care of persons living with Long COVID.&nbsp;
The funding will go towards projects structured into four modules. The projects are scheduled to launch in autumn 2024 and will be eligible for funding until 2028. Project outlines can be submitted no later than 29 April 2024 for modules 2 and 3 and no later than 21 May 2024 for modules 1 and 4.
<h4>Module 1: Pilot projects for integrated and/or coordinated care</h4>
The projects in this module can set up and evaluate concepts to enhance the integrated or coordinated care of Long COVID patients.
<h4>Module 2: Innovations in care</h4>
To enable improved clinical characterisation and treatment, pilot projects and other initiatives that set out to develop novel innovative tools for diagnosis and therapy support as well as better monitoring of the quality of Long COVID care can be eligible for funding.&nbsp;
<h4>Module 3: Investigating the situation in care and epidemiological aspects</h4>
Research in this context will focus on the current situation in care and epidemiological aspects. The areas eligible for funding will be, in particular, healthcare research looking into epidemiological issues, uptake and utilisation rates of care services, perspectives and perceptions of the general population and stakeholders as well as health economic analysis.
<h4>Module 4: Central coordinating unit and overall evaluation</h4>
It is envisaged to complement modules 1 to 3 with a coordinating unit to ensure the targeted, structured and regular integration of all of the projects funded. In addition, the coordinating unit will have further tasks specifically related to the pilot projects of modules 1 and 2. These include, in particular, the timely definition and establishment of joint requirements and standards.&nbsp;
The projects will be selected in a two-step procedure. The Federal Ministry of Health has commissioned the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR Projektträger) to implement this procedure as a project manager. For further information, please visit the DLR project manager’s website.&nbsp;

Federal Ministry of Health establishes funding priority

Ärztinnen und Ärzte sowie Pflegerinnen und Pfleger legen die Hände übereinander als Zeichen der Zusammenarbeit

Significantly fewer people had to take sick leave last year due to post or long COVID or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) than in the years 2021 and 2022. However, the periods of sick leave of those affected are still long. This is the result of a current analysis conducted by the AOK Research Institute.
The evaluation found that between March 2020 and December 2023, more than one in three of all members of the AOK health insurance funds, who were in permanent gainful employment, were written at least one sick leave certificate in connection with an acute COVID-19 infection. 1.8 percent of those insured with AOK took sick leave at least once due to long COVID, post COVID or CFS.
The trend decreases over time. While in March 2022, 416 per 100,000 employees insured with AOK received a sick note for long COVID, post COVID or CFS, the number had decreased to 110 per 100,000 employees by December 2023.
Often, those affected are absent from work for longer time periods. For long COVID, the average duration of incapacity for work was 36.6 days – without considering the duration of the acute infection. The duration per case was 31.6 days for post COVID and 29.9 days for CFS, respectively.
The evaluation also shows that older employees are absent from work due to late sequelae of a COVID-19 infection more frequently than would be expected compared with other diseases. In more than 44 percent of all long COVID cases, those affected are aged between 50 and 59 years. The situation is similar for post COVID and CFS.

Long and post COVID: declining number of sick notes, but long periods of absence from work

Since 1976, the AOK Research Institute (Wissenschaftliches Institut der AOK – WIdO), the research and consultation institute of the AOK health insurance funds, provides expert opinions on all service areas of the statutory health insurance. Research focuses on issues related to outpatient care, medicinal products and therapeutic measures, health services research, hospitals, multisectoral care, workplace health promotion as well as long-term care and nursing care.

The AOK Research Institute (WIdO)

Eine Grafik, die ein Balkendiagramm über erkrankte Long COVID, Post COVID und CFS Patienten zeigt.

Researchers at Trinity College and St. James's Hospital in Ireland are currently investigating the causes of the so-called “brain fog”, which is affecting many people suffering from Long COVID. The symptom refers to impaired mental performance. This manifests itself, among other things, in a reduced ability to concentrate and memory difficulties.
The research team had already taken blood samples from 76 COVID-19 patients in the spring of 2020. Compared to a control group without COVID-19 disease, they observed increased levels of a protein (“S100 beta”), which is an indicator of an impaired blood-brain-barrier. The blood-brain-barrier is the transition between the bloodstream and the central nervous system and normally protects the brain from harmful substances.&nbsp;
The researchers also examined 10 healthy persons, 11 persons with Long COVID without brain fog and 11 persons with Long COVID who suffer from the symptom of brain fog.
Using MRI images and a special contrast media, the research team was able to show that more contrast media passes through the blood-brain-barrier in people with Long COVID. The blood vessels have become more permeable due to the viral infection. The blood-brain-barrier can be disrupted both during an acute COVID-19 illness and in people suffering from Long COVID. Among other things, this allows cells and neurotransmitters of the immune system to reach the brain more easily. The researchers assume that more permeable blood vessels and an overactive immune system are primarily responsible for the “brain fog”.&nbsp;
In future, the permeability of the blood-brain-barrier could be an important indicator of the neurological consequences of COVID-19 disease. More precise connections and possible treatment methods derived from this are still being researched.

Study explores causes of “brain fog”

Trinity College is a renowned university in Dublin, Ireland. Established in 1592, it is one of the oldest universities in the world.&nbsp;

Trinity College

St. James's Hospital is a hospital in Dublin, Ireland. It co-operates with Trinity College as an academic partner.&nbsp;

St. James’s Hospital

Nature is an important medical journal published monthly by the Nature publishing group. It publishes articles on current topics in biomedical research aimed at scientists and the medical profession.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nature 

This guest article by Katrin Kunert, Vice President of recreational, preventive and rehabilitation sports at the National Paralympic Committee Germany (DBS) e.V. places a focus on the holistic approach of rehabilitation exercise as a promising approach to addressing the diverse physical and psychological impairments of patients with Long COVID.

Rehabilitation exercise – an opportunity for patients with Long COVID

Katrin Kunert is the Vice President of recreational, preventive and rehabilitation sports at the National Paralympic Committee Germany (DBS) e.V. A graduate engineer and former member of the Defence Committee and spokesperson of her party's parliamentary group on the Sports Committee of the German Bundestag (from 2009 until 2017), she has been on the DBS Executive Committee since 2017.&nbsp;

Guest article Katrin Kunert

The diagnosis of Long COVID is still challenging due to the diffuse symptoms. Researchers from an international team led by the University of Zurich have now identified parameters, which could be used to better distinguish Long COVID from other disease symptoms. The study was published in the scientific journal Nature.
The researchers examined the blood of 113 persons suffering from COVID-19 and 39 healthy persons and analysed more than 6,000 proteins. Of the 113 people, 40 have developed Long COVID. Their blood was analysed again after 6 and 12 months. This showed that the concentration of various proteins, that have important functions for balance in the immune system, was altered. The team also identified other so-called “biomarkers” for tissue damage and altered blood clotting. Biomarkers are relevant, measurable biological parameters, which indicate an illness.&nbsp;
Taken together, the biomarkers indicate, among other things, a faulty activation of the immune system, which could contribute to the development of symptoms in persons suffering from Long COVID. The findings are a new starting point for research into Long COVID diagnosis.

New research approach for the diagnosis of Long COVID

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

Science is a major medical journal, which is published weekly by the&nbsp;American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). It publishes articles on current topics in biomedical research, which are aimed at scientists and the medical fraternity.

Science

Probenröhrchen werden in Zentrifuge gegeben.

In a current study, Dutch scientists are investigating what happens at the cellular level in the bodies of persons suffering from Long COVID during exertion. This is because many persons severely affected by Long COVID suffer from Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM), a typical worsening of symptoms after strain, which leads to persistent or permanent worsening of symptoms after even brief physical activity or mental activity.&nbsp; &nbsp;
Twenty-five Long COVID patients who had been suffering from symptoms for more than six months were observed. The comparison group consisted of 21 patients who had recovered from COVID-19 illness. All participants completed a 15-minute sports session. One week before and one day after the athletic strain, the scientists analysed the blood and thigh muscle samples of the study participants. Overall, the data suggests that the lower physical performance observed in Long COVID patients is related to a higher proportion of quickly fatiguing muscle fibres (high-fatigable glycolytic fibres) and an impaired function of the mitochondria. Mitochondria convert nutrients into energy for the organism. This process appears to be disrupted in patients with Long COVID.

New study on the causes of post-exertional malaise (PEM) in Long COVID

The VU University Amsterdam is one of the two major universities in the Dutch capital Amsterdam. It was established at the end of the 19th century.&nbsp;

VU University Amsterdam

Nature Communications is a scientific journal published by the Nature publishing group. It publishes articles on current scientific topics and is aimed at scientists.&nbsp;

Nature Communications

Anja Piel, Member of the Federal Executive Board of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), explains in her guest article why Long COVID is a challenge for society as a whole and what is needed in order to better help those affected.&nbsp;

Long COVID: A challenge for society as a whole

Anja Piel is a Member of the Federal Executive Board of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB). Qualified as an industrial management assistant and previous leader of the parliamentary group of the Green Party in Lower Saxony, she is also alternate chair of the Administrative Board of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) and of the Board of the German Pension Insurance Association (Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund – DRV Bund) as well as a member of the German Social Advisory Council.

Guest article Anja Piel

In this guest article, Peggy Heinz, deputy CEO of NAKOS, the National Contact and Information Centre for the Encouragement and Support of Self-Help Groups, explains the development and added value of self-help groups in the context of Long COVID and Post COVID in Germany. She also talks about the structures needed to support and empower the self-help groups.&nbsp;

Self-help as an essential pillar of the healthcare system

Peggy Heinz is deputy CEO of the National Contact and Information Centre for the Encouragement and Support of Self-Help Groups (NAKOS).
In the years 2022 and 2023, she managed the project “Hilfe nach COVID-19. Zugänge zur gesundheitlichen Selbsthilfe fördern” (Help after COVID-19. Promoting access to health-related self-help) (financed by the AOK-Bundesverband (Federal Association of the Local Health Insurance Funds)) and helped set up the coronavirus database at NAKOS.
NAKOS operates as a nationwide point of contact and pools information on collective self-help and self-help support. It publishes materials and expert information on different topics, independently and free of charge.

Guest article Peggy Heinz

On 21 December 2023, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) adopted a new guideline for faster and more needs-based care for patients with suspected Long COVID. This Long COVID guideline defines requirements for care and describes so-called care pathways, i.e. the course of medical treatment.
A medical contact person is envisaged. This person will be responsible for the specific coordination required for diagnosis and treatment. In this way, the existing outpatient structures and services are utilised according to the severity and complexity of the illness and the right healthcare professions are involved.
The guideline applies both to those affected by Long COVID or with illness following a COVID-19 vaccination and to patients whose illnesses have similar causes or symptoms to Long COVID. This includes ME/CFS, for example.

Long-COVID guideline is published

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)

Das Foto zeigt eine Ärztin, die im Gespräch mit einer Patientin ist

On <a href="https://www.bmg-longcovid.de/en/discourse/long-covid-round-table/2nd-long-covid-round-table-december-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">4 December 2023, the second Long COVID Round Table</a> took place in Berlin and continued the dialogue on dealing with the challenges of Long COVID. Federal Minister of Health Prof Dr Karl Lauterbach once again invited experts and various affected groups to discuss the topics of research, pharmaceuticals, rehabilitation and participation. The event provided an open platform for the exchange of interdisciplinary ideas, current research findings and discussions on new therapeutic approaches to improve long-COVID care in Germany. The <a href="https://www.bmg-longcovid.de/en/discourse/long-covid-round-table/long-covid-round-table-september-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">first round table</a> on the topic was held in September 2023.

The BMG organised the second "Long COVID" round table

Bundesgesundheitsminister Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach im Austausch mit Expertinnen und Experten beim zweiten Runden Tisch Long COVID

At the end of the year, the previously parallel information services on the topic of Long COVID from the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) and the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) will be merged into a single portal on the website bmg-longcovid.de. The website longcovid-info.de, which was previously provided by the BZgA, will then no longer be available. All content available there has also been accessible on the BMG portal since November 2023. From 1st December 2023 onwards, visitors will be automatically redirected to the website bmg-longcovid.de. In addition to the previous content, you will also find constantly updated scientific information and a comprehensive discourse section with guest contributions and video statements from national and international experts and other stakeholders.

Information services from the BZgA and BMG on the topic of Long COVID are brought together in one portal

The second Long COVID Congress was held on 24th and 25th November 2023, jointly organised by the Long COVID Medical Association and University Hospital of Jena. The BMG initiative Long COVID participated with an information programme. Federal Health Minister Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach acted as patron together with Thuringia's Prime Minister, Bodo Ramelow.&nbsp;
The aim of the event was to discuss new findings on the development of the disease and secondary diseases as well as therapy studies on Long COVID. Another focus was on participation in social life, such as the impact of Long COVID on the social and working life of patients suffering from the disease. Experts from all scientific fields, dealing with Long COVID, were involved in the exchange. Participants also included practitioners from various medical specialities to discuss new approaches for the treatment of affected persons. The congress was aimed at both professionals and affected persons.

Second congress of the Long COVID Medical Association  from 24 to 25 November 2023 in Jena

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 

Das Foto zeigt einen Informationsstand zur BMG Initiative Long COVID beim zweiten Kongress des Ärzte- und Ärztinnenverbandes Long COVID vom 24. - 25. November 2023 in Jena

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

A recent study by the Perelman School of Medicine, published in the journal Cell in October 2023, indicates that a deficiency of the hormone serotonin could contribute to the development of long-COVID symptoms and influence their course. Serotonin is a messenger substance that influences the immune system, the nervous system and the inflammatory response, among other things.&nbsp;
The study found that people with Long COVID had lower serotonin levels compared to recovered persons. The reduced serotonin level could therefore possibly be involved in the development of Long COVID symptoms and lead to impaired brain function and nervous system. Altered blood clotting could also be a consequence of the reduced serotonin level - this can lead to small blood clots ("microthrombi"), which are being discussed as a cause of Long COVID.&nbsp;&nbsp;

New study by US researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine investigates the link between serotonin deficiency and long COVID

The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is the oldest medical school in the USA and is one of the most prestigious universities in the country. In 2023, professors Katalin&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjYsbOJwK-CAxU_g_0HHY7bBUkQFnoECBsQAQ&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aerztezeitung.de%2FPanorama%2FKariko-Weissman-Die-Nobelpreistraeger-im-Kurzportraet-443402.html&amp;usg=AOvVaw0M2GNBCbXhYTmhtQCNb5KV&amp;opi=89978449" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Karikó </a>and Drew Weissmann, who conduct research at the university, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their research on mRNA vaccines.&nbsp;

Perelman School of Medicine

Cell is a renowned scientific journal. The articles published are subject to special peer review. Cell primarily publishes articles on current research topics in the field of experimental cell biology.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cell

In order to improve the care of children and adolescents with Long COVID, the state of Baden-Württemberg is supporting the “MOVE-COVID-BW” model project at the university hospitals in Freiburg, Heidelberg, Tübingen and Ulm. Among other things, a cross-sectoral care structure is to be established and tested, which will be supplemented by a telemedicine service. Scientific data will be collected at all four locations according to defined criteria, e.g. by means of standardised questionnaires. This will be included in a register. The aim is to enable further systematic and targeted research into the pathology, for example through special virological, immunological and radiological diagnostics. This way, the project can contribute to gaining new insights into the development mechanisms of the disease and its treatment - especially in children and adolescents. Information on the pathology and treatment options are provided on a website.

Baden-Württemberg: Model project on Long COVID in children and adolescents

The model project “MOVE-COVID-Baden-Württemberg” (Molecular immunological characterisation &amp; multimodal-multicentric intersectoral care of Long COVID in childhood and adolescence in Baden-Württemberg) is funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Integration.
Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Integration, Baden-Württemberg
The Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Integration, Baden-Württemberg, is a supreme state authority. It is one of twelve ministries in the administration of the state of Baden-Württemberg.&nbsp;

MOVE-COVID-Baden-Württemberg

A research team at Yale University in the US led by Professor Akiko Iwasaki has conducted a study on possible changes in the immune system of Long COVID patients. Blood samples from 268 people were analysed: Some continued to suffer from symptoms one year after a coronavirus infection, others had already fully recovered and a third group consisted of people who had not yet been infected with the coronavirus.&nbsp;
Various changes in the defence system were discovered in the patients with persistent symptoms. The number of certain defence cells and their activity were altered compared to healthy individuals. A reactivation of antibodies against various viruses was also detected, for example against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and the Epstein-Barr virus (the pathogen that causes "Pfeiffer's glandular fever"). Sufferers also had lower concentrations of the stress hormone cortisol in their blood.&nbsp;
The results could help to understand possible changes in biological processes in long COVID. Based on this, relevant, measurable biological parameters (so-called "biomarkers") could be developed for diagnostics.

Yale University study examines blood count of Long COVID patients

Yale University is a renowned university in the USA. The study "Distinguishing features of long COVID identified through immune profiling" was published in the renowned journal "Nature”.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Yale University 

COVID-19 has faded into the background for many people. But others are still suffering from the long-term effects of a Corona virus SARS-CoV-2 infection. 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 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 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;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

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

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 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;

BMG Long COVID Initiative