Aug 2023 | Charité University Medicine Berlin National Clinical Study Group | Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (Max Delbrück Center)
A new study by the Charité and the Max Delbrück Center: Findings on ME/CFS in patients affected by Long-COVID
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.
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.
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.
© Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Charité University Medicine Berlin National Clinical Study Group
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.
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (Max Delbrück Center)
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.