Women are three times more likely than men to get severe long COVID: Here’s why

Published by: Folio - University of Alberta
Published on: November 7, 2025
By Gillian Rutherford

Research published today in Cell Reports Medicine reveals key biological differences that may explain why women with long COVID — especially those who develop chronic fatigue syndrome — tend to experience more severe and persistent symptoms than men do.

Post COVID-19 condition, or long COVID, is diagnosed when neurological, respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms develop or continue three months or more after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The likelihood of developing long COVID is three times higher for women than men, but until now the underlying biological mechanisms driving this disparity have remained unknown.

Comments closed

research

COVID ages women’s blood vessels, according to a study

Published October 2, 2025

Published by: Radio-Canada
Published on: October 2, 2025
By Marie-Pier Mercier

COVID-19 causes women’s blood vessels to age prematurely, according to an international study involving two researchers from Université Laval. The disease should therefore be considered an additional risk factor in cardiovascular health analyses. Specifically, in those who have developed severe symptoms, they warn.

The aging of blood vessels results in greater rigidity, which can increase the risk of certain cardiovascular diseases.

“The heart must work a little harder to propel blood through the arterial system, and this causes variations in pressure that can damage sensitive organs, including the brain and kidneys,” explains Catherine Fortier, a kinesiologist and researcher in vascular aging at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval.

Comments closed

vaccines

COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy found safe for infants

Published February 7, 2024

Published by: CIDRAP
Published on: February 7, 2024
By Stephanie Soucheray

A new study of almost 200,000 newborns in Sweden and Norway shows that maternal receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy poses no risk to…

Comments closed

research

Covid increases risk of grave illness and death in pregnant women – study

Published January 16, 2023

Published by: The Guardian
Published on: January 16, 2023
By Ian Sample

Women are more likely to die in pregnancy if they catch Covid, according to researchers, who found the infection raised the risk of a swath of serious illnesses for mothers and their newborns.

Reports throughout the pandemic have highlighted how pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to the virus, with doctors urging women to take up the offer of Covid vaccination to reduce the risk to themselves and their children.

Comments closed

Tag: women