Study: Women Face Higher Long COVID Risk

Recent studies highlight that women, especially those aged 40 to 55, have a 31% higher risk of developing long COVID compared to men. Research led by the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, as part of a nationwide initiative funded by the NIH, involved 12,276 participants and found the risk among women is influenced by factors such as age, pregnancy, and menopausal status. In Minnesota, a survey revealed that over 40% of respondents experienced prolonged symptoms lasting at least three months, with vaccinated individuals reporting fewer long COVID symptoms than unvaccinated ones. AI-assisted research in Italy has identified a molecular signature of long COVID in children, paving the way for potential diagnostic blood tests. The results, published in JAMA Network Open, suggest biological factors like hormonal differences and immune system responses might contribute to this increased risk. Understanding these sex-based differences is crucial for developing targeted treatments and improving management of long COVID.