Germany respiratory infection study links long-term symptoms and mortality shifts

A study conducted via the DigiHero digital cohort in Germany has analyzed the prevalence and impact of post-infectious syndromes following respiratory infections. Among 46,915 adults surveyed, 48.3% reported at least one respiratory infection between September 2024 and August 2025. Of those infected, 18.8% experienced symptoms lasting 12 weeks or longer. The prevalence of these long-term symptoms increased with age, rising from 13.1% in the 20–29 age group to 21.4% in those aged 60–69. Common symptoms across different pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and RSV, included reduced physical performance, shortness of breath, rapid exhaustion, and fatigue.

Complementary research published in ‘PLOS Global Public Health’ examined 14 years of data in Germany, noting significant shifts in infection seasonality due to the pandemic. While respiratory infection peaks typically occurred in February or March before the pandemic, they shifted forward by eight to twelve weeks during the 2020/21 to 2022/23 seasons. This shift also correlated with changes in general mortality and cardiovascular disease deaths, which saw their seasonal peaks move from February/March to December/January during the pandemic years.