The Gutenberg COVID-19 study – one of the largest population-representative studies on the pandemic in Germany – has provided new findings on Long COVID. In the period from October 2020 to June 2021, about five percent of 10,250 people examined were found to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. All infected persons and a control group were surveyed for the presence of the multiple symptoms that can occur in Long COVID, according to the WHO. About 40% of the infected persons interviewed reported new onset or increased intensity of symptoms over at least six months. About one third reported that their performance capability had been permanently impaired since the infection. At approximately 46%, women suffer from the long-term effects more often than men (around 35%). Not only people with more severe courses of the acute infection are affected, but also the much larger number of infected people with mild or asymptomatic courses.
Gutenberg COVID-19 study: Biobanking by the BioBank Mainz
As part of the Gutenberg COVID-19 study, researchers at the University Medical Center Mainz are investigating the effects of the Corona pandemic and the measures taken on the health of the test persons. The BioBank Mainz, a partner of the German Biobank Alliance (GBA) since 2020, is responsible for the biobanking of the collected biosamples. The more than one million blood samples, blood cells, tear fluid and stool samples as well as dental swabs are uniformly recorded, processed and stored here according to the highest scientific standards and under ISO-compliant conditions. The Gutenberg COVID-19 study is funded with more than three million euros by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Rheinland-Pfalz Ministry of Science and Health, the ReALity Initiative of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the Network of University Medicine (NUM).
New study on Long COVID launched
In order to address the high demand for research on Long COVID, the multidisciplinary Gutenberg Long COVID Study has now started in Mainz. This is intended to contribute comprehensively to research into the disease in order to enable adequate care for those affected in the future. The study is being funded by the Rheinland-Pfalz Ministry of Science with about 400,000 euros. A total of 600 people with proven infection will be examined as part of the Gutenberg COVID-19 study, as well as people who have been treated for COVID-19 at the University Medical Center Mainz. This way, the entire spectrum of severity of an acute course of infection can be studied. A wide range of data is collected in a screening examination that also includes an MRI of the head and the collection of biosamples. These samples are also processed and stored in the BioBank Mainz.
Evidence-based characterisation of disease pattern
The spokesperson of the principal investigators and head of the liquid division of the BioBank Mainz, Prof. Dr. Philipp Wild, explains the need for research on Long COVID: "The data of the Gutenberg COVID-19 study make it clear that the sole consideration of symptoms is not sufficient for the diagnosis and definition of Long COVID. With the new study, we are pursuing the goal of being able to characterise and define the clinical picture in an evidence-based manner. This includes, for example, identifying affected organs and systems, but also risk factors. The systems medicine investigation of molecular patterns will help us to understand the pathomechanisms of the disease. In order to also detect subclinical changes that may not or not yet have manifested in a disease, we will not depend on the occurrence of symptoms when examining the participants." In this way, the study team hopes to clarify many questions about Long COVID, such as whether there are biomarkers specific to the disease, whether people unaware of their infection are also affected, whether there are particular risk factors or whether vaccination can influence the occurrence of Long COVID. "Only a deeper understanding of the effect mechanisms of the disease will enable effective diagnostics and therapy. At present, this is only possible to a limited extent," adds Wild.
Further information and links:
Photo: AdobeStock
