There was a recent article in the paper noting that females account for 80% of those suffering from long-lasting symptoms of COVID-19, or what is referred to as COVID “long-haulers.”
COVID “long haulers” are individuals who are post-COVID patients with symptoms that persist or recur beyond the disease’s initial onset. Like so much having to do with the novel coronavirus, much is unknown about how or why these long-term symptoms persist.
The symptoms of “long-haulers” can include:
- Exhaustion
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing
- Muscle or joint pain
- Chest pain
- Headaches
- Fast or pounding heartbeats
- Loss or change in taste or smell
- Insomnia
- Problems with memory or concentration
- Some report hair loss, rashes, blood clots or organ damage in the heart, lungs or brain.
Do COVID "long hauler" symptoms affect women at a disproportionate rate?
The article notes the number of patients suffering from COVID “long-hauler” symptoms is skewed toward females by a large percentage. The article cites several groups:
[A]n internist who leads post-COVID syndrome research at the Mayo Clinic, said that of the approximately 20,000 patients there who have tested positive for the coronavirus, roughly 10 percent are considered long-haulers, and 60 percent to 80 percent of those are women.
Patients mystified and frustrated with their symptoms have flocked to social media to find others in the same situation. The most prevalent Facebook groups are showing similar gender splits among long-haulers.
Diana Berrent, founder of Survivor Corps, a group for COVID long-haulers, said that of the 150,000 members, 82 percent are women and 18 percent are men. Likewise, Amy Watson, founder of Long Haul Covid Fighters, says that membership in the two large Facebook groups she manages has maintained a fairly constant breakdown of about 80 percent female and 20 percent male. Both groups consist of about 12,000 people.
The article notes doctors aren’t sure why there may be a difference in how the virus plays out in the long run between men and women. One possibility is fundamental differences in the immune system between men and women.
Contact our San Diego law firm if you contracted COVID-19 on the job
If you are a female and you believe you contracted COVID at your place of work, to be safe, you should file a workers compensation claim. This will help you get the medical coverage you need if you develop long COVID or become a COVID “long-hauler.”
The San Diego workers' compensation attorneys at McLaughlin & Sanchez have 30 years of combined experience helping injured workers get the compensation they deserve. Attorney Robert A. McLaughlin is a recipient of the 2017 California Applicant’s Attorney of the Year. He has litigated workers' compensation cases in Southern California for more than 20 years. Attorney Denise Sanchez has 12 years of prior experience in insurance defense. Now, she helps injured workers get workers' compensation benefits.
If you've been injured on the job or believe you have contracted COVID-19, contact us online or call us for your free case review.