CHAPTER 4
How are different populations affected by Long Covid?
Am I at high risk for Long Covid because I have a weak or damaged immune system?
I
mmunocompromised people have a higher risk of developing severe symptoms during an initial Covid-19 infection. This may increase the chance of Long Covid and of chronic COVID because of their compromised immune response. If I have had severe Covid-19 symptoms, am I more likely to have Long Covid?
Yes, the more severe the symptoms during Covid-19 infection, the more likely you will develop Long Covid. Is Long Covid more common in women or men?
Women are more likely to develop Long Covid-related health consequences months after infection compared to men. 70
A review published in June 2022 aggregating data from 35 studies found that incidence of Long Covid symptoms in women was 22% higher than in men. 71 The authors called for more research that can provide insight into the disparity, which has Sex-Related Differences in Long-COVID-19 Syndrome | Journal of Women's Health 71 Sex differences in sequelae from COVID-19 infection and in long COVID syndrome: a review 70
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