What happens in the blood of post-COVID patients? And can the presence of specific substances in the bloodstream assist in better diagnosis and treatment of post-COVID? To gain a better understanding of these topics, RIVM is launching a study on biomarkers in the blood of post-COVID patients. Biomarkers are biological molecules that offer information about a person’s overall health. Investigating which biomarkers can be linked to post-COVID in general, or to specific post-COVID symptoms, may provide clues for developing targeted treatments.
Previous studies on biomarkers for post-COVID, both in the Netherlands and internationally, often did not have access to blood samples from people before, during and after post-COVID. This has now been made possible by combining blood samples from two long-term population studies: the PIENTER Corona study and the Vaccination Study on the Coronavirus (VASCO). In these studies, launched in 2020 and 2021 respectively, about 40,000 participants submitted blood samples on multiple occasions and filled out surveys on symptoms before and after a SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).
A recent test involving a small group of participants already showed different biomarkers between people with and without post-COVID. One of the goals of the study is to find and link biomarkers to common symptoms such as extreme fatigue, joint pain, or concentration problems and brain fog, or combinations of those symptoms. Understanding these biomarkers and the biological mechanisms taking place in the body during the emergence of symptoms associated with post-COVID will hopefully yield more insights about treatment options.
Patient participation
Working with the Post-COVID Network Netherlands, this study includes a representative panel of post-COVID patients who can advise on the research as needed.
About the study
The study was made possible with funding from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw). ZonMw programmes and funds research and innovation in health, healthcare and well-being, encourages impact by helping to implement knowledge in practice, and defines the areas where knowledge is needed. The study, which starts on 1 December 2024 and runs for two years, will be conducted in collaboration with Radboud UMC.
More research on post-COVID
People with post-COVID can sign up to take part in scientific research. They can register through the national portal at Postcovidonderzoek.nl, which is part of the Post-COVID Network Netherlands. The aim is to provide a single online portal for everyone in the Netherlands who has been diagnosed with post-COVID and wants to take part in research. The portal will be used to monitor which symptoms these people have, how common the symptoms are, and how they change over time