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Microbes & Immunity Physiological and cognitive effects of PASC

Gender differences were more pronounced in cognitive Figures S12-S29. The analyses also examined the correlation
symptoms. Females reported a higher median score of between COVID-19 booster shot status (no booster, one,
0.267 for mental severity compared to 0.033 in males two, and three boosters) and symptom severity, specifically
(Figure S4). The standard deviation for females was also depression, behavior, stress, and chronic pain. In
greater (0.41 versus 0.28 for males). These disparities were depression severity, those in the no-booster group showed
even more pronounced in the mental duration, where a mean score of 0.357, while those with three boosters
females showed a median score of 0.4 compared to 0.1 in scored 0 for both depression severity and duration. In
males (Figure S3), with standard deviations of 0.91 and behavior symptoms, the no-booster group showed a mean
0.47, respectively. Additional gender-based comparisons severity score of 0.571, while the three-booster group
are presented in Figures S6-S11. scored 0.111. The stress duration averaged 1.143 for the
Vaccination status significantly influenced symptom no-booster group and 0.667 for the three-booster group.
severity across multiple categories (Figure 4). Dysgeusia In addition, the two-booster group showed higher scores
showed a sharp difference between vaccinated and than the one-booster group for depression duration,
unvaccinated groups (p=0.033), as did anosmia (p=0.004), behavior severity, behavior duration, stress severity, and
which was expected given their known correlation. Throat chronic pain severity, indicating worsened symptoms after
sensitivity showed a notable but not statistically significant the third booster. Notably, only 8% of participants had
trend (p=0.080), indicating a possible relationship. received three boosters, with three participants contracting
Further comparisons by vaccination status are available in COVID-19 after the third booster. Overall, severity scores
A D

B E

C F

Figure 4. Violin plots of the distributions of individual symptom severities for (A) stress, (B) sleep, (C) behavior, (D) breathlessness, (E) throat sensitivity,
and (F) depression for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2025) 111 doi: 10.36922/mi.8545