Table 1 Demographic and clinical information of the long COVID and control groups

Sex (female), n(%)*

19(70.4%)

79(72.5%)

0.88

Age (years), mean ± SD†

45.2 ± 9.9

48.4 ± 8.0

0.08

BMI, mean ± SD†

26.5 ± 3.9

28.3 ± 6.1

0.21

Education‡, n(%)*

 Basic/Intermediate/Advanced

3(11.1%) / 12(44.4%) / 9(33.3%)

12(11.0%) / 52(47.7%) / 45(41.3%)

0.76

 N/A

3 (11.1%)

0(0%)

COVID

 Confirmed diagnosis*

9(32.1%)

109(100%)

< 0.01

 Severity^§, n(%)

 (Uninfected/mild/ moderate/severe)

19(70.4%) / 8(29.6%) / 0(0%) / 0(0%)

0(0%) / 91(83.5%) / 14(12.8%) / 4(3.7%)

 Days since first infection, mean ± SD *

507.1 ± 289.0

908.2 ± 260.5

 Vaccinated, n(%)

28(100%)

109(100%)

1

 Unvaccinated before first infection, n/T(%)^¶

2/5(7.4%)

71/99(71.1%)

Health history, n(%)*

 High blood pressure

7(25.9%)

33(30.4%)

0.75

 Diabetes

1(3.7%)

6(5.5%)

1

 Asthma

0(0%)

8(7.3%)

0.31

 High cholesterol

8(29.6%)

28(25.7%)

0.89

 Heart attack

0(0%)

1(0.9%)

1

 Angina pectoris

0(0%)

1(0.9%)

1

 Embolism or thrombosis

0(0%)

2(1.8%)

1

 Blood pressure medication

7(25.9%)

25(22.9%)

1

 Aspirins

0 (0%)

3(2.8%)

0.87

 Antiplatelets

1 (3.7%)

1(0.9%)

0.87

Smoking status, n(%)*

 Yes

9(33.3%)

31(28.4%)

0.20

 Ex-smoker

3(11.1%)

29(26.6%)

 No

14(51.9%)

49(45.0%)

Alcohol use frequency, n(%)*

 Yes, every day

0(0.0%)

7(6.4%)

0.06

 Yes, only weekends

15(55.6%)

38(34.9%)

 No

0(0.0%)

0(0.0%)

Symptoms (persists / not anymore / never had it), n(%)

 Memory Problems

91(83.5%) / 1(0.9%) / 17(15.6%)

 Fatigue

86(78.9%) / 18(16.5%) / 5(4.6%)

 Brain Fog

87(79.8%) / 2(1.8%) / 20(18.3%)

 Problems with attention

86(78.9%) / 3(2.8%) / 20(18.3%)

 Muscle Weakness

73(67.0%) / 18(16.5%) / 18(16.5%)

 Muscle Ache

55(50.5%) / 30(27.5%) / 24(22.0%)

 Sleeping Problems

54(49.5%) / 4(3.7%) / 51(46.8%)

 Dyspnoea

52(47.7%) / 26(23.9%) / 31(28.4%)

 Communication Problems

48(44.0%) / 5(4.6%) / 56(51.4%)

 Headaches

44(40.4%) / 42(38.5%) / 23(21.1%)

 Anosmia

7(15.6%) / 44(40.4%) / 48(44.0%)