According to the results of a comprehensive survey by the public health science institute Sciensano among people in Belgium aged 15 and above, a significant number of people that contracted COVID-19 either suffered or still suffer from long COVID. This means that they had or still have some symptoms of the virus more than 3 months after having contracted COVID-19.
4 % of people in Belgian aged 15 and above are suffering or have suffered from long COVID
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Sciensano’s survey reveals that 4% of the population over the age of 15 has suffered or still suffers from long COVID. This is the first time that the public health science institute has published population-level statistics on the incidence of long COVID in Belgium. The results for Belgium are the same as in other countries where similar surveys have been carried out.
In Belgium, long COVID is more common among women and among people aged between 45 and 54. Instances of long COVID are the same across the socio-economic spectrum.
Allergies and diabetes
Sciensano’s survey also shows that the number of people suffering from allergies and diabetes in Belgium has doubled over the past 20 years and this number appears to be still rising.
Last year, 7% of the population aged 15 and above suffered from diabetes and just over 25% of people in Belgium have a least one allergy.
Sciensano says it is possible that this figure is even higher as not all those affected realise that they have an allergy or diabetes and some that do don’t seek treatment.