{"id":12191,"date":"2025-05-12T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/?page_id=12191"},"modified":"2025-12-04T17:33:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T17:33:41","slug":"costreport-long-covid-and-mecfs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/costreport-long-covid-and-mecfs\/","title":{"rendered":"Rising Cost of Long COVID and ME\/CFS"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"12191\" class=\"elementor elementor-12191\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-639465 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"639465\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4efa3cb9 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"4efa3cb9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a102dfb elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7a102dfb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"430\" src=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-Microsite-EconomicCost_EN_DESKTOP.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-12396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-Microsite-EconomicCost_EN_DESKTOP.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-Microsite-EconomicCost_EN_DESKTOP-300x92.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-Microsite-EconomicCost_EN_DESKTOP-1024x315.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-Microsite-EconomicCost_EN_DESKTOP-768x236.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-Microsite-EconomicCost_EN_DESKTOP-18x6.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28ed1153 elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"28ed1153\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"854\" src=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-Microsite-EconomicCost_EN_MOBILE.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-12397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-Microsite-EconomicCost_EN_MOBILE.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-Microsite-EconomicCost_EN_MOBILE-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-Microsite-EconomicCost_EN_MOBILE-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-Microsite-EconomicCost_EN_MOBILE-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Banner-Microsite-EconomicCost_EN_MOBILE-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-580dc573 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"580dc573\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5e90c448 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"5e90c448\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-8f8df8d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"8f8df8d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-650002d rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"650002d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16697e79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"16697e79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><div><p style=\"margin: 0px;text-align: right;font-style: normal;font-weight: 400;font-size: 16px;line-height: normal;font-family: Satoshi\"><\/p><\/div><span lang=\"de\"><span><span>The rising cost of Long COVID and ME\/CFS in Germany<\/span><\/span><\/span><span><\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd10b83 lemon-intro elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bd10b83\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span lang=\"de\">For the first time, a new report released by Risklayer and the ME\/CFS Research Foundation models the prevalence and cost of Long COVID and ME\/CFS in Germany. The report looked at the entire five-year period between 2020 and 2024 and found that both diseases created a substantial societal burden. This website summarises key findings and conclusions from the report. The full report, which includes a detailed description of the model developed to generate the novel data, can be accessed via the download link below.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-48ca574 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"48ca574\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-160eff9 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"160eff9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-efbb6a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"efbb6a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Interview with Risklayer:<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f3b32c elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"1f3b32c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/2s6uslP4sRM&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2413df1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2413df1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Subtitles available in German and English (<a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/youtube\/answer\/100078?hl=en&amp;sjid=12709764095896452043-EU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How do I turn on captions in YouTube videos?<\/a>)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9e2879 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e9e2879\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Pr\u00e4sentation of the results:<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af1aace elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"af1aace\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=6ETWT640-60&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c2fd87 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5c2fd87\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"de\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">Presentation of the study results at the <a href=\"https:\/\/events.mecfs-research.org\/en\/events\/symposium_2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">ME\/CFS Symposium 2025 - Research and Care in Germany<\/span><\/a> in May 2025 in Berlin<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-8407ede rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"8407ede\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef81240 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ef81240\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Press coverage of the study:<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-830419d lemon-intro elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"830419d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Der Spiegel<\/strong>: &#8220;Long Covid und ME\/CFS kosten die Gesellschaft j\u00e4hrlich 60 Milliarden Euro&#8221; (<span style=\"color: #999999;\"><a style=\"color: #999999;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spiegel.de\/gesundheit\/long-covid-und-me-cfs-kosten-die-gesellschaft-jaehrlich-60-milliarden-euro-a-bff6a132-7c21-4203-804a-6eb3ac6159db\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a><\/span>)<\/li><li><strong>FAZ &#8211; Frankfurter Allgemeine<\/strong>: &#8220;Folgekosten der Pandemie: Der lange Arm des Virus&#8221;\u00a0(<span style=\"color: #999999;\"><a style=\"color: #999999;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.faz.net\/aktuell\/wissen\/folgekosten-der-pandemie-der-lange-arm-des-virus-110472175.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a><\/span>)<\/li><li><strong>Stern<\/strong>: &#8220;Long Covid und ME\/CFS: Das teure Erbe der Pandemie&#8221; (<span style=\"color: #999999;\"><a style=\"color: #999999;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stern.de\/gesundheit\/long-covid-und-me-cfs---einige-suchen-freiwillig-den-tod---35714434.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a><\/span>)<\/li><li><strong>Manager Magazin<\/strong>: &#8220;Long Covid und ME\/CFS: Kosten in Milliardenh\u00f6he in Deutschland&#8221; (<span style=\"color: #999999;\"><a style=\"color: #999999;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manager-magazin.de\/hbm\/long-covid-und-me-cfs-kosten-in-milliardenhoehe-in-deutschland-a-0a23154a-eda5-408d-a8e6-6d6c13fd168b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a><\/span>)<\/li><li><strong>Der Tagesspiegel<\/strong>: &#8220;Studie zu Folgen von Virusinfektion: Long Covid und ME\/CFS kosten Gesellschaft 60 &#8230;&#8221;\u00a0(<span style=\"color: #999999;\"><a style=\"color: #999999;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tagesspiegel.de\/wissen\/studie-zu-folgen-von-virusinfektion-long-covid-und-mecfs-kosten-gesellschaft-60-milliarden-euro-pro-jahr-13672027.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a><\/span>)<\/li><li><strong>Der Tagesspiegel<\/strong>: &#8220;Die 60-Milliarden-Krankheit: Warum es richtig ist, die Kosten von Long Covid akribisch vorzurechnen&#8221;\u00a0(<span style=\"color: #999999;\"><a style=\"color: #999999;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tagesspiegel.de\/gesundheit\/die-60-milliarden-krankheit-warum-es-richtig-ist-die-kosten-von-long-covid-akribisch-vorzurechnen-13677373.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a><\/span>)<\/li><li><strong>Deutsches \u00c4rzteblatt<\/strong>:\u00a0&#8220;Medienbericht: Long COVID und ME\/CFS kosten Gesellschaft 63 Milliarden Euro j\u00e4hrlich&#8221; (<span style=\"color: #999999;\"><a style=\"color: #999999;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aerzteblatt.de\/news\/medienbericht-long-covid-und-mecfs-kosten-gesellschaft-63-milliarden-euro-jahrlich-ac6ab36c-b2e4-40a1-8f27-6b52d53dd9e8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a><\/span>)<\/li><li><strong>Frankfurter Rundschau<\/strong>: &#8220;Erschreckende Zahlen: Long Covid kostet Deutschland etliche Milliarden pro Jahr&#8221; (<span style=\"color: #999999;\"><a style=\"color: #999999;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fr.de\/panorama\/long-covid-kostet-deutschland-etliche-milliarden-pro-jahr-zr-93725969.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a><\/span>)<\/li><li><strong>Frankfurter Allgemeine Presse<\/strong>: &#8220;Alarmierende Statistik: Deutschland verliert j\u00e4hrlich Milliarden durch Long Covid&#8221; (<span style=\"color: #999999;\"><a style=\"color: #999999;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fnp.de\/welt\/alarmierende-statistik-deutschland-verliert-jaehrlich-milliarden-durch-long-covid-zr-93725969.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a><\/span>)<\/li><li><strong>N-TV Nachrichten<\/strong>: &#8220;Hunderttausende sind erkrankt: Long Covid und ME\/CFS kosten 60 Milliarden Euro pro Jahr&#8221; (<span style=\"color: #999999;\"><a style=\"color: #999999;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.n-tv.de\/wissen\/Long-Covid-und-ME-CFS-kosten-60-Milliarden-Euro-pro-Jahr-article25760208.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a><\/span>)<\/li><li><strong>NZZ &#8211; Neue Z\u00fcricher Zeitung<\/strong>: &#8220;Long Covid und ME\/CFS: Milliardenkosten belasten Deutschland&#8221; (<span style=\"color: #999999;\"><a style=\"color: #999999;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nzz.ch\/wissenschaft\/long-covid-und-chronisches-fatigue-syndrom-verursachen-in-deutschland-kosten-von-mehr-als-63-milliarden-euro-pro-jahr-ld.1883937\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a><\/span>)<\/li><li><strong>AOK<\/strong>: &#8220;250 Milliarden Folgekosten durch Long Covid und ME\/CFS seit 2020&#8221;\u00a0(<span style=\"color: #999999;\"><a style=\"color: #999999;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aok.de\/pp\/gg\/update\/folgekosten-long-covid-me-cfs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a><\/span>)<\/li><li><strong>Tagesspiegel Background<\/strong>: \u201cData as a source of hope\u201d\u00a0<\/li><li>(<span style=\"color: #999999;\"><a style=\"color: #999999;\" href=\"https:\/\/background.tagesspiegel.de\/gesundheit-und-e-health\/briefing\/daten-als-hoffnungstraeger\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a><\/span>)<\/li><li><strong>SWR Kultur <\/strong>(Radio): \"This is how much ME\/CFS costs us per year\" (<span style=\"color: #999999;\"><a style=\"color: #999999;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swr.de\/swrkultur\/wissen\/so-viel-kostet-uns-die-krankheit-mecfs-pro-jahr-100.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a><\/span>)<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-557d17f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"557d17f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-139fdb0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"139fdb0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-59ca12a rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"59ca12a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-336f8e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"336f8e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span lang=\"de\"><span><span>What are the key findings?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ddbf020 lemon-intro elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ddbf020\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span lang=\"de\">In addition to causing acute illness and global disruption, the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a growing wave of long-term health conditions that continue to affect millions of people, resulting in rising socio-economic costs. Aside from what is known as Long COVID or post-COVID syndrome, ME\/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis \/ chronic fatigue syndrome), too, has long been suspected to cause substantial costs to society. Until now, neither the total number of people affected by both conditions, nor the extent to which the two diseases are causing damage in terms of economic, social, and medical costs to society in Germany has been known.\u2028<\/span><\/p><p><span lang=\"de\">With this new report, released jointly by the ME\/CFS Research Foundation and Risklayer, a first-of-its-kind holistic attempt at modelling the number of people living with either ME\/CFS or Long COVID and the costs arising from these burdensome diseases in Germany is made publicly available. The findings of the report paint a stark picture: <b>For the five-year period between 2020 and 2024, Long COVID and ME\/CFS cost Germany more than \u20ac250 billion.<\/b><b> In 2024 alone, Long COVID and ME\/CFS cost \u20ac63.1 billion, equating to 1.5% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) the same year.<\/b> Annual costs over the entire period modelled are displayed in Figure 6 and Table 1 of the report.<\/span><\/p><p><span lang=\"de\">Using an innovative approach, by combing existing data and findings from literature with novel data from a model specifically developed for this report, the authors show that, at the end of 2024, 871,086 people in Germany were likely living with Long COVID, while an additional 650,183 people were living with ME\/CFS (the latter includes ME\/CFS diagnosed as a result of COVID-19\/Long COVID). See also Table 1 of the report. <b>In total, more than 1.5 million people in Germany were living with either Long COVID or ME\/CFS at the end of 2024.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ab0f7e4 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"ab0f7e4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-662bd1f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"662bd1f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/figure_6_webseite_ENGLISH-scaled.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Figure 6 \/ Table 1\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Figure 6 \/ Table 1\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTIyNDksInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9tZWNmcy1yZXNlYXJjaC5vcmdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMjVcLzA1XC9maWd1cmVfNl93ZWJzZWl0ZV9FTkdMSVNILXNjYWxlZC5qcGcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"734\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/figure_6_webseite_ENGLISH-734x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-12249\" alt=\"Figure 6 \/ Table 1\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(max-width: 734px) 100vw, 734px\" data-srcset=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-850dbf7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"850dbf7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"de\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">Click on the image to open a detailed view and download the image in high quality.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-a8f71bd elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"a8f71bd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9e9539f rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"9e9539f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-add1719 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"add1719\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/figure_1_webseite_ENGLISH.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Figure 1\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Figure 1\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTIxOTcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9tZWNmcy1yZXNlYXJjaC5vcmdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMjVcLzA1XC9maWd1cmVfMV93ZWJzZWl0ZV9FTkdMSVNILmpwZyJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"798\" src=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/figure_1_webseite_ENGLISH-1024x798.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-12197\" alt=\"Figure 1\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-srcset=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af79275 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af79275\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"de\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">Click on the image to open a detailed view and download the image in high quality.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-465286e rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"465286e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48ec66b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"48ec66b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"de\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">How does the model work?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78a4aef lemon-intro elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"78a4aef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span lang=\"de\">The underlying data basis for modelling the prevalence of Long COVID and ME\/CFS for the purpose of this report stems from a corrected modelling of the number of monthly SARS-CoV-2 infections in Germany since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This alternative model is available as a peer-review\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s10049-025-01520-9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">publication.<\/a><span lang=\"de\"> It indicates that in 2023-2024, the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections was likely 80-100 times higher than official data by the Robert Koch Institute (the federal public health institute in Germany) suggests. This can be seen in Figure 1 of the report.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-c7370a8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"c7370a8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-881b2bb rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"881b2bb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bce89ae lemon-intro elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bce89ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span lang=\"de\">Based on the corrected number of SARS-CoV-2 infections, the report's own data model, which was specifically developed by the authors, generates data on the number of active Long COVID as well as ME\/CFS cases in Germany and how these developed over time. While Long COVID cases peaked in 2022, before reducing to a more stable level as SARS-CoV-2 became endemic in the population, according to the model, the number of ME\/CFS cases steadily increased during the pandemic (Figure 3). Indeed, a number of international experts predicted that the already comparably high number of people living with ME\/CFS in the general population would likely substantially increase with the spread of SARS-CoV-2.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-c3d5594 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"c3d5594\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a871e99 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a871e99\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/figure_3_webseite_ENGLISH.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Figure 3\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Figure 3\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTIyNTAsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9tZWNmcy1yZXNlYXJjaC5vcmdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMjVcLzA1XC9maWd1cmVfM193ZWJzZWl0ZV9FTkdMSVNILmpwZyJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"794\" src=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/figure_3_webseite_ENGLISH-1024x794.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-12250\" alt=\"Figure 3\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-srcset=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b972b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b972b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span lang=\"de\">Click on the image to open a detailed view and download the image in high quality.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-6163a8b elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"6163a8b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6d627b9 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"6d627b9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-efb0eb4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"efb0eb4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/figure_8_webseite_ENGLISH-scaled.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Figure 8\" data-elementor-lightbox-description=\"Figure 8\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTI0MDMsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9tZWNmcy1yZXNlYXJjaC5vcmdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMjVcLzA1XC9maWd1cmVfOF93ZWJzZWl0ZV9FTkdMSVNILTEtc2NhbGVkLmpwZyJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"709\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/figure_8_webseite_ENGLISH-759x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-12403\" alt=\"Figure 8\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 100vw, 709px\" data-srcset=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eee8163 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eee8163\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"de\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">Click on the image to open a detailed view and download the image in high quality.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-45d2dc1 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"45d2dc1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2647ec5 lemon-intro elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2647ec5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In order to generate data on the number of active Long COVID and ME\/CFS cases over time, the report's data model makes use of both the corrected number of SARS-CoV-2 infections (see Figure 1) as well as a range of existing findings from scientific literature. These findings cover assumptions on how many of the people who contract SARS-CoV-2 go on to develop Long COVID, how many of these Long COVID cases remain ill for more than a year and how many of the Long COVID cases transition to ME\/CFS. The model also takes into account the share of people recovering from Long COVID and ME\/CFS over time (for ME\/CFS the overall recovery rate has been found to be very low, only at around 5% per year). Key assumptions and how these are fit into the model' flow are depicted in Figure 8 of the report.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-7160997 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"7160997\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3e55a18 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"3e55a18\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14d09e6 lemon-intro elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"14d09e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>On the basis of the modelled number of Long COVID and ME\/CFS cases, the model proceeds with defining the costs arising from the two diseases. These costs result from reduced value-add and increased expenditure, calculated according to standard economic parameters. Specifically, the model calculates the following costs: production disturbance costs, human capital costs, medical costs, administrative costs, travel costs, support and assistance costs, deadweight costs of transfer payments, and quality of life and well-being costs. These are then multiplied by different severity multipliers for Long COVID and ME\/CFS, where a disability or severity weighting is a factor on a scale from 0 to 100% which reflects the severity of health loss associated with the particular condition, where 0 represents full health and 100% represents a full burden and not being able to work (see Annex 2 in the report for a detailed description). The model generates monthly costs arising from Long COVID and ME\/CFS over the observed period, as illustrated in Figure 5 of the report. The sum off all these costs results in the total combined cost of more than \u20ac250 billion for 2020-2024.<\/p><p>As can be seen in Figure 5 of the report, the monthly costs of Long COVID and ME\/CFS remained at a more or less stable and  high level over the course of the past 20 or so months. Currently, there is no reason to assume that the high level of costs is going to abate on its own.<\/p><p><style>@font-face<br \/>\t{font-family:Helvetica;<br \/>\tpanose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;<br \/>\tmso-font-charset:0;<br \/>\tmso-generic-font-family:auto;<br \/>\tmso-font-pitch:variable;<br \/>\tmso-font-signature:-536870145 1342208091 0 0 415 0;}@font-face<br \/>\t{font-family:\"Cambria Math\";<br \/>\tpanose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;<br \/>\tmso-font-charset:0;<br \/>\tmso-generic-font-family:roman;<br \/>\tmso-font-pitch:variable;<br \/>\tmso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face<br \/>\t{font-family:Calibri;<br \/>\tpanose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;<br \/>\tmso-font-charset:0;<br \/>\tmso-generic-font-family:swiss;<br \/>\tmso-font-pitch:variable;<br \/>\tmso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal<br \/>\t{mso-style-unhide:no;<br \/>\tmso-style-qformat:yes;<br \/>\tmso-style-parent:\"\";<br \/>\tmargin-top:0cm;<br \/>\tmargin-right:0cm;<br \/>\tmargin-bottom:8.0pt;<br \/>\tmargin-left:0cm;<br \/>\tline-height:115%;<br \/>\tmso-pagination:widow-orphan;<br \/>\tfont-size:12.0pt;<br \/>\tfont-family:\"Calibri\",sans-serif;<br \/>\tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;<br \/>\tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;<br \/>\tmso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;<br \/>\tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;<br \/>\tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;<br \/>\tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;<br \/>\tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\";<br \/>\tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;<br \/>\tmso-font-kerning:1.0pt;<br \/>\tmso-ligatures:standardcontextual;<br \/>\tmso-fareast-language:EN-US;}.MsoChpDefault<br \/>\t{mso-style-type:export-only;<br \/>\tmso-default-props:yes;<br \/>\tfont-family:\"Calibri\",sans-serif;<br \/>\tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;<br \/>\tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;<br \/>\tmso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;<br \/>\tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;<br 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elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0f297a4 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"0f297a4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf9eac7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bf9eac7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Download the full report!<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-014abd6 elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default 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data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-94bd0e8 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"94bd0e8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e4949ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e4949ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Download the full report!<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-488b2d7 elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"488b2d7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1c216ee rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"1c216ee\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1276708 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1276708\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cover_alone-720x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-12283\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" data-srcset=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-046ffe1 elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"046ffe1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/The-rising-cost-of-Long-COVID-and-MECFS-in-Germany.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-download\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Download<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b744a14 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"b744a14\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2e581a0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"2e581a0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d081be2 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"d081be2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2dd936 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a2dd936\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"de\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">Why is this data model important?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9fe7cf lemon-intro elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d9fe7cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the absence of any reliable data on the prevalence and the costs of Long COVID and ME\/CFS in Germany, it has remained difficult for stakeholders, such as the German government and, for example, the country\u2019s pharmaceutical sector, to measure up an adequate and justified response in terms of public spending and investment in research. So far, some \u20ac150 million have been made available for health care services research by the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de\/ministerium\/ressortforschung\/handlungsfelder\/forschungsschwerpunkte\/long-\/post-covid.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Federal Ministry of Health (BMG)<\/a> , with another roughly \u20ac50 million provided for clinical and basic research by the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesundheitsforschung-bmbf.de\/de\/long-covid-post-covid-und-me-cfs-forschen-verstehen-besser-behandeln-14744.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).<\/a> As such, the federal government spent approximately \u20ac40 million annually on Long COVID and ME\/CFS research during the five-year period up until the end of 2024. Compared to the combined cost of both diseases in Germany in 2024 of \u20ac63.1 billion, average annual spending on research by the federal government equaled 0.06%. Some state governments, too, have made funds available for dedicated research projects. However, a coordinated, nationwide research strategy has yet to be implemented. \u2028\u2028<\/p><p><span lang=\"de\">Some efforts by the federal government of Germany are underway to address the current evidence gap on prevalence and costs. Such efforts include the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA)-funded project\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/innovationsfonds.g-ba.de\/projekte\/versorgungsforschung\/bd-lc-ps.687\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BD-LC-PS<\/a><span lang=\"de\">, the\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de\/ministerium\/ressortforschung\/handlungsfelder\/forschungsschwerpunkte\/long-\/post-covid\/modul-3\/multicare.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MultiCARE<\/a><span lang=\"de\"> and\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de\/ministerium\/ressortforschung\/handlungsfelder\/forschungsschwerpunkte\/long-\/post-covid\/modul-3\/heloco.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HELoCO<\/a><span lang=\"de\"> projects funded by the BMG, and the\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmi.bund.de\/DE\/themen\/it-und-digitalpolitik\/it-des-bundes\/dateninstitut\/dateninstitut-node.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Post-COVID Data Model<\/a><span lang=\"de\"> by the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI).<\/span><\/p><p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"de\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">With any official data unlikely to be available soon, the ME\/CFS Research Foundation and Risklayer felt it was important to provide interim \u2013 and in the eyes of the authors currently the most up-to-date and complete \u2013 estimates on the prevalence and cost of Long COVID and ME\/CFS in Germany.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">With the release of their report, both organisations intend to inform wide-ranging discussions about how best to shape public policy, funding, research, and health systems to improve overall outcomes and reduce costs for people living with Long COVID and ME\/CFS, communities, governments and society at large.\u2028<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-8908c27 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"8908c27\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3dbbf28 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"3dbbf28\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9824c65 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9824c65\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span lang=\"de\"><span><span>What are the conclusions?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a684240 lemon-intro elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a684240\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>German state and federal governments have been proactive in raising awareness and improving the overall care situation for people living with Long COVID and ME\/CFS, as well as providing funding for basic, clinical and epidemiological research. That said, general efforts and levels of funding allocated to advance and improve the research, care and treatment of ME\/CFS historically, and both ME\/CFS and Long COVID to the present day, remain disproportionately low compared with the modelled costs and even when compared with similarly burdensome diseases.\u2028\u2028<\/p><div dir=\"ltr\"><span lang=\"de\">While the report does not provide detailed policy recommendations, it does outline some key areas of intervention that would likely help to curb the cost of Long COVID and ME\/CFS.<\/span><\/div><div dir=\"ltr\"><span lang=\"de\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-53a61ed elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"53a61ed\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-edd9f43 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"edd9f43\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a68672 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2a68672\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"de\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">1. Improving our baseline understanding of Long COVID and ME\/CFS<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-148d7d8 lemon-intro elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"148d7d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span lang=\"de\">There is currently a lack of surveillance, inconsistent diagnostic practices underpinned by multiple systems of classification, and patchy knowledge amongst medical practitioners, employers and the public. All of which act as barriers to improving baseline data about the two diseases. These factors also contribute to poor health, social, and economic outcomes in a variety of ways, including via stigmatisation and chronic stress. Improved surveillance will help, and more can be done in terms of improving education and knowledge about these conditions in a wide range of settings.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-14aae7e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"14aae7e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-688e5ad rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"688e5ad\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82e263f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"82e263f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"de\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">2. Lowering of overall infection rate (e. g. by public health measures and vaccinations)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4b5aeb lemon-intro elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b4b5aeb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Public health interventions, strategies, technologies and policies have the potential to reduce future costs in terms of lowering the overall infection rate, alongside vaccinations. In this context, improving air quality in public buildings by enforcing existing regulations in Germany as well as in health, education, school and childcare settings, should be considered.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-01f3706 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"01f3706\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e4fcb2a rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"e4fcb2a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d093ea6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d093ea6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span lang=\"de\"><span><span>3. Reducing severity and increasing recovery rates (e.g. by improving treatment and\/or developing a cure) are important areas to target<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ebb9e1b lemon-intro elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ebb9e1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Reducing severity and increasing recovery rates of Long COVID and ME\/CFS may be achieved through a combination of targeted biomedical research and improved health systems infrastructure. Resourcing basic, clinical, and translational research to identify underlying disease mechanisms, uncover biomarkers, build diagnostic capabilities and develop effective treatments, including novel drugs, could significantly reduce the costs of these conditions and improve quality of life for the hundreds of thousands of patients in Germany (and millions of people globally).\u2028\u2028<\/p><p>Noteworthy, while the model only looked at historical data, it can be safely assumed that the number of active ME\/CFS cases alone will likely rise by a total of another 34,000 in the period of 2025-2028, based on the SARS-CoV-2 infections and Long COVID cases that already occured until the end of 2024. Additionally, more ME\/CFS cases are likely to manifest as a result of new infections (SARS-CoV-2 as well as other infectious triggers) during the period of 2025-2028, further increasing the total number of people affected. It can therefore be concluded that the issue of Long COVID and ME\/CFS will not naturally attenuate, with COVID-19 now being endemic and in the absence of any currently available cures or effective treatments.\u2028\u2028<\/p><div dir=\"ltr\"><p><span lang=\"de\">In comparison to the combined cost incurred over the past five years (around \u20ac250 billion), the amount of money spent by the federal government on research to counter the negative effects of these two conditions over the same period (around \u20ac200 million) clearly pales in comparison. The findings of the report can therefore be used by a variety of stakeholders to strongly argue in favour of a substantial expansion of public health interventions and research funding, by both the public and private sector alike.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-c5bd0df elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"c5bd0df\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0232fe5 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"0232fe5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-040dc98 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"040dc98\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What are the limitations of the report?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6fd214 lemon-intro elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a6fd214\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Limitations of the report and its data model relate first and foremost to the general lack of data. This includes a lack of infection surveillance (such as cases of COVID-19 overall, Long COVID and ME\/CFS incidence and prevalence, fluctuation of non-COVID-19-related ME\/CFS cases during the various stages of the pandemic and related public health measures, data on recovery rates for both Long COVID and ME\/CFS), as well as lack of long-term data due to the relative newness of Long COVID.<\/p><p>This means there is insufficient longitudinal data to understand completely the effects of vaccination, infection-derived immunity, different virus strains, geographical location, or other factors on disease progression and resolution. Where necessary, assumptions were made in the model about these based on the best available secondary data. Limitations also relate to biased data. Where the model draws on secondary data, such as employer and health insurer data, a number of biases might be present.\u2028\u2028<\/p><p>Noteworthy, among other things, the model assumes that non-COVID-19-related ME\/CFS case numbers remained constant over time, with only COVID-19-related ME\/CFS having increased since 2020. This means the modelled number of ME\/CFS cases is likely an underestimation.<span style=\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\"><br \/><\/span><\/p><p>Another limitation of the model used in the report is its use of the so-called Monte Carlo simulation, which is computationally intensive and require significant expertise to carry out. This type of simulation cannot easily be re-run, explained for non-specialists to understand, or replicated by all reviewers for complete verification. Annex 2 of the report aims to provide sufficient details on this modelling approach. The model data is also provided on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/risklayer\/long-covid-mecfs-costs-germany\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GitHub,<\/a> .\u2028\u2028<\/p><p>The report provides an overview of other, existing studies which have taken similar approaches at estimating and modelling the different costs of Long COVID and ME\/CFS (Tables 2 and 3 in Annex 1 of the report). That the model\u2019s various findings broadly align with research published by others lends further weight to its reliability.\u2028 Generally, the report\u2019s authors concluded that the model\u2019s findings are conservative and more likely to underestimate rather than overestimate costs.\u2028\u2028<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-a381f40 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"a381f40\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-18fa843 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"18fa843\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c9343e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4c9343e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span lang=\"de\"><span><span>Who are the authors?<\/span><\/span><\/span><span><\/span><div><\/div><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-336204c lemon-intro elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"336204c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The data-based modelling in this report was performed by risk management experts from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.risklayer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Risklayer GmbH.<\/a> Risklayer has been providing risk analytics and risk management to governments all over the world since 2014. For the initial years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Risklayer maintained a detailed day-by-day SARS-CoV-2 infections caseload dataset for all 401 districts in Germany, based in part on a novel crowdsourcing approach for data. The comprehensive data provided by Risklayer was utilized and frequently cited by major German media outlets and as the basis for official counting of cases and trends in Germany through the first two years of the pandemic.<\/p><p>Through this practical experience, Risklayer has cultivated extensive expertise in COVID-19 caseload data within Germany. This proficiency is augmented by Risklayer's ongoing practice of modelling the consequences of critical events and natural disasters, from seismic activity and severe meteorological occurrences to conflict. The reliability of Risklayer's models is evidenced by their daily use by numerous governments and non-governmental organisations globally. Risklayer originated from the Center for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Technology (CEDIM) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany, and the General Sir John Monash Foundation in Australia.<\/p><p>The ME\/CFS Research Foundation provided input on the assumptions used in the model, as well as literature reviews and engagement with networks of experts. As a non-profit organisation based in Germany, and with an international scientific advisory board, the Foundation funds biomedical research, enables the networking of researchers and experts in the field, and informs patients and the public about the status quo of research relating to both ME\/CFS and subtypes of Long COVID.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-beb0473 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"beb0473\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-14919d3 rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"14919d3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c938ef elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0c938ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Presseschau<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-961c95b elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"961c95b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Follow and support us on social media. A strong presence makes us more visible and helps us to expand our commitment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-821a803 e-grid-align-left elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-shape-rounded elementor-grid-0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-social-icons\" data-id=\"821a803\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"social-icons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-social-icons-wrapper elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-instagram elementor-animation-grow elementor-repeater-item-0d90a71\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mecfs_research\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Instagram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-instagram\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-x-twitter elementor-animation-grow elementor-repeater-item-492920f\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mecfsresearch\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">X-twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-x-twitter\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-tiktok elementor-animation-grow elementor-repeater-item-733035a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@mecfsresearchfoundation\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Tiktok<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-tiktok\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-youtube elementor-animation-grow elementor-repeater-item-08b2832\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@MECFSResearchFoundation\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Youtube<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-youtube\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-facebook elementor-animation-grow elementor-repeater-item-da62d22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100092535845334\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-facebook\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-linkedin elementor-animation-grow elementor-repeater-item-7e9d587\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/mecfs-research-foundation\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-linkedin\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7726142 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"7726142\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;rae_animations_entrance&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cd5e26a rael-particle-no\" data-id=\"cd5e26a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Die steigenden Kosten von Long COVID und ME\/CFS in Deutschland Ein neuer Bericht von Risklayer und der ME\/CFS Research Foundation modelliert erstmals die Pr\u00e4valenz und die Kosten von Long COVID und ME\/CFS in Deutschland. Der Bericht betrachtete den gesamten F\u00fcnfjahreszeitraum zwischen 2020 und 2024 und stellt fest, dass beide Krankheiten eine erhebliche gesellschaftliche Belastung darstellen. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":12401,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-12191","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12191"}],"version-history":[{"count":256,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12191\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15460,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12191\/revisions\/15460"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}