{"id":12349,"date":"2025-05-09T16:15:58","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T16:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/?page_id=12349"},"modified":"2025-08-29T12:22:52","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T12:22:52","slug":"pm-costreport-long-covid-and-mecfs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/press\/press-releases\/pm-costreport-long-covid-and-mecfs\/","title":{"rendered":"2025-05 Pressemeldung Impact Studie"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Press release<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Societal cost of Long COVID and ME\/CFS in Germany severely underestimated - \u20ac63 billion in 2024 alone<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Hamburg, 12 May 2025<\/p>

To mark International ME\/CFS Day on 12 May (external link<\/a><\/span>) the ME\/CFS Research Foundation and Risklayer (a risk modelling company) are publishing a joint study that has, for the first time, determined current data on the prevalence and social costs of Long COVID and ME\/CFS in Germany. The study estimates the total annual social costs of Long COVID and ME\/CFS in Germany at around 63.1 billion euros \u2013 as of 2024. This corresponds to approximately 1.5% of gross domestic product. According to the report, the total costs since the start of the pandemic (2020-2024) amount to over 250 billion euros.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Over 1.5 million patients in Germany<\/strong>
According to the study, there were around 871,000 active Long COVID and 650,000 ME\/CFS cases in Germany in December 2024. In total, more than 1.5 million people in Germany are affected by these severe, chronic multisystemic diseases, for which there is currently no effective treatment or cure. Both diseases often lead to permanent functional limitations and incapacity to work.<\/strong><\/p>

Personal impact and economic burden
Long COVID and ME\/CFS result in the loss of everyday life function, work and social participation for many patients. Young people are often no longer able to continue their education. Family carers take on a large part of the care under great strain, all while travelling long distances to seek diganosis and treatment.
At a societal level, there are also considerable costs: for medical care, nursing care, loss of work, social benefits and lost tax revenue. Companies suffer productivity losses and purchasing power is lost.<\/p>

Infection incidence underestimated - diseases continue to increase<\/strong>
Although the pandemic is considered to be over, the report uses innovative measurement methods and data collection to show that SARS-CoV-2 continued to circulate in several waves of infection in 2024. This \"hidden\" infection pattern has continued to contribute to the emergence of new Long COVID and ME\/CFS cases. A decline in the number of cases is not foreseeable.<\/p>

Research expenditure disproportionate to the damage<\/strong>
Joerg Heydecke, Managing Director of the ME\/CFS Research Foundation and co-author of the study, warns:
\"The calculated damage of 63 billion Euros is currently offset by only 15-20 million Euros a year in public funding for diagnostics and therapy research. This is neither medically nor economically justifiable. A targeted and sustainable expansion of biomedical research could avoid considerable costs in just a few years - and give hundreds of thousands of patients new prospects for life and work.\"<\/em><\/p>

Aim of the study: initiate debate, improve care<\/strong>
With the report and the specially-developed data model, the ME\/CFS Research Foundation and Risklayer want to initiate a broad debate on the occasion of International ME\/CFS Day: How can the healthcare system, how can policymakers respond appropriately to the growing scale of post-infectious diseases? One thing is clear: the investments made to date are far from sufficient.<\/p>

Call from the scientific community: strengthen clinical research now<\/strong>
Prof. Dr Carmen Scheibenbogen (Charit\u00e9 University Medicine Berlin) emphasises:
\"These figures show how high the social damage caused by Long COVID and ME\/CFS is. Without effective therapies, the costs will remain high in the long term. However, current research results already show initial therapeutic successes and prospects. Further therapeutic approaches should be clinically trialled as soon as possible. We urgently need more financial support for this, all the more urgently as the USA is unfortunately trying to stop most research approaches and planned therapy studies. Determined investment in biomedical research, especially clinical research, would probably make real prospects of a cure possible for some of the patients in a few years' time.\"<\/em><\/p>

About the methodology of the study<\/strong>
The study combines data from emergency departments (DGINA), intensive care units (DIVI register), wastewater measurements (AMELAG) and international research findings. The model developed calculates societal damage on the basis of proven methods for disaster impact assessment - including economic, medical and social effects at various levels. The team behind the report incorporated patient and policy perspectives, and included experts from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, the Australian National University, and the University of Adelaide.<\/p>

Healthcare emergency for ME\/CFS: an untenable situation<\/strong>
ME\/CFS has been recognised by the WHO since 1969, but is still largely ignored in Germany. Diagnosis is complex, effective therapies are lacking, symptomatic medication is rarely prescribed and hardly ever reimbursed.
In 2024, there were only very few specialised outpatient clinics in Germany. Many patients are permanently unable to work or in need of care. Their medical care and social security is often precarious.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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All information and data from the study are available on our website (in German and English):
https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/costreport-long-covid-and-mecfs\/<\/u><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Graphics from the study \u2018The rising costs of Long Covid and ME\/CFS in Germany\u2019 available for download. Use for editorial purposes free of charge. All rights reserved: ME\/CFS Research Foundation.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Press contact<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Thank you for your interest. Please feel free to contact us, sign up to our press mailing list and subscribe to our newsletter.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Petra\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
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Petra Dohrendorf
e-Mail: presse@mecfs-research.org<\/a><\/span>
phone: +49-179-1419112<\/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

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Further information on ME\/CFS, the foundation and current media coverage can be found in the press section of our website: https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/press\/\u00a0<\/p>

Donation info<\/strong>: https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/spenden\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>

Donation account<\/strong>: DE35 2004 0000 0628 5316 00 (Commerzbank)<\/p>

ME\/CFS Research Foundation is a non-profit limited liability company and fulfils the statutory requirements according to \u00a7\u00a7 51, 59, 60 and 61 AO (German tax laws). It may issue donation receipts within the meaning of Section 10b of the German Income Tax Act.<\/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

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About ME\/CFS Research Foundation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The non-profit ME\/CFS Research Foundation supports and promotes biomedical research into the disease spectrum of ME\/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis\/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). Due to insufficient research, there is still no causal therapy for this common, severe and complex multisystemic disease. The foundation finances research projects, connects researchers and provides information about research. In doing so, the foundation cooperates with many ME\/CFS patient organisations that have long been working to improve the situation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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About ME\/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis\/chronic fatigue syndrome) and long COVID:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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ME\/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis\/chronic fatigue syndrome) is a chronic, severe multisystem disease with a wide range of disorders, primarily affecting the nervous and immune systems. ME\/CFS is predominantly post-infectious, including as a consequence of COVID-19. It is the most severe form of Long Covid. ME\/CFS patients have pronounced physical and cognitive symptoms, a very low quality of life and often a high degree of disability. 60 to 75 percent of all patients are unable to work, many of them are housebound or bedridden. The main symptom is severe exercise intolerance with worsening symptoms after everyday activities (PEM = post-exertional malaise).\u00a0<\/p>

Due to the lack of a biomarker, ME\/CFS can currently only be diagnosed through extensive medical history and cross-disciplinary exclusion diagnostics. Many doctors lack the necessary knowledge to do this. It often takes years for patients to receive a diagnosis. There is currently no causal treatment. Adults with ME\/CFS currently have little prospect of improvement and reintegration into working life. The prognosis for children and adolescents is better, but long-term absences from school are the norm. For most patients, participation in normal life with a job, education, friends, sports, hobbies, etc. is not possible.<\/p>

There are over 40 million patients with ME\/CFS worldwide. In Germany, it is assumed that over 650,000 people are affected. Some of those affected by long COVID also develop ME\/CFS. The medical and psychosocial care situation for patients is insufficient. Misdiagnoses often occur, resulting in consequential damage. Economic factors are also critical, as workers are absent from work due to illness and training programmes are not started or completed.<\/p>

All the figures and sources mentioned can be found on our website: https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/was-ist-me-cfs\/<\/a><\/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<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PressEmitteilung Gesellschaftliche Kosten durch Long COVID und ME\/CFS stark untersch\u00e4tzt \u2013 63 Milliarden Euro allein in 2024 Hamburg, 12. Mai 2025 Anl\u00e4sslich des Internationalen ME\/CFS-Tags am 12. Mai (externer Link) ver\u00f6ffentlichen die Stiftung ME\/CFS Research Foundation und Risklayer (ein Unternehmen f\u00fcr Risikomodellierung)\u00a0eine gemeinsame Studie, die erstmals aktuelle Daten zur H\u00e4ufigkeit und den gesellschaftlichen Kosten von […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":8866,"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-12349","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12349","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\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12349"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12349\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13282,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12349\/revisions\/13282"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}