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Goldenberg DL. How to understand the overlap of long COVID, chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis, fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndromes. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2024; 67:152455. [PMID: 38761526 DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Long COVID should be limited to patients with multiple, persistent symptoms not related to well-defined organ damage. Once redefined, a focused review of long COVID demonstrates striking similarity to chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), fibromyalgia (FM) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Research in long COVID has revealed similar findings to those noted in CFS/ME and FM, characterized by central nervous system organ dysfunction. Long COVID, like CFS/ME, FM and IBS, is best understood as a bidirectional mind-body, neuroimmune illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don L Goldenberg
- Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, United States; Adjunct Faculty, Departments of Medicine and Nursing, Oregon Health Sciences University, United States.
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Pignon B, Matta J, Wiernik E, Toussaint A, Loewe B, Robineau O, Carrat F, Severi G, Touvier M, Gouraud C, Ouazana Vedrines C, Pitron V, Ranque B, Hoertel N, Kab S, Goldberg M, Zins M, Lemogne C. Psychological burden associated with incident persistent symptoms and their evolution during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective population-based study. BMJ MENTAL HEALTH 2024; 27:e300907. [PMID: 38490690 PMCID: PMC11021747 DOI: 10.1136/bmjment-2023-300907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying factors that predict the course of persistent symptoms that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic is a public health issue. Modifiable factors could be targeted in therapeutic interventions. OBJECTIVE This prospective study based on the population-based CONSTANCES cohort examined whether the psychological burden associated with incident persistent symptoms (ie, that first occurred from March 2020) would predict having ≥1 persistent symptom 6-10 months later. METHODS A total of 8424 participants (mean age=54.6 years (SD=12.6), 57.2% women) having ≥1 incident persistent symptom at baseline (ie, between December 2020 and February 2021) were included. The psychological burden associated with these persistent symptoms was assessed with the Somatic Symptom Disorder-B Criteria Scale (SSD-12). The outcome was having ≥1 persistent symptom at follow-up. Adjusted binary logistic regression models examined the association between the SSD-12 score and the outcome. FINDINGS At follow-up, 1124 participants (13.3%) still had ≥1 persistent symptom. The SSD-12 score at baseline was associated with persistent symptoms at follow-up in both participants with (OR (95% CI) for one IQR increase: 1.42 (1.09 to 1.84)) and without SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to baseline (1.39 (1.25 to 1.55)). Female gender, older age, poorer self-rated health and infection prior to baseline were also associated with persistent symptoms at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The psychological burden associated with persistent symptoms at baseline predicted the presence of ≥1 persistent symptom at follow-up regardless of infection prior to baseline. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Intervention studies should test whether reducing the psychological burden associated with persistent symptoms could improve the course of these symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baptiste Pignon
- Population-based Cohorts Unit, Paris Saclay University, Paris, France
| | - Joane Matta
- Population-based Cohorts Unit, Paris Saclay University, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Wiernik
- Population-based Cohorts Unit, Paris Saclay University, Paris, France
| | - Anne Toussaint
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Loewe
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Olivier Robineau
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut Pierre-Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France
- EA2694, Univ Lille, Centre Hospitalier de Tourcoing, Tourcoing, Paris
| | - Fabrice Carrat
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut Pierre-Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France
- Département de santé publique, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France
| | - Gianluca Severi
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INSERM, CESP U1018, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Department of Statistics, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Mathilde Touvier
- Sorbonne Paris Nord University, Inserm U1153, Inrae U1125, Cnam, Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS) - Université Paris Cité (CRESS), Bobigny, France
| | - Clement Gouraud
- Service de Psychiatrie de l'adulte, AP-HP, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm; INRAE, Center for Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Paris, France
| | | | - Victor Pitron
- Université Paris Cité, VIFASOM (Vigilance Fatigue Sommeil et Santé Publique), Paris, France
- Centre du Sommeil et de la Vigilance-Pathologie professionnelle, APHP, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris, France
| | - Brigitte Ranque
- Université Paris Cité, Service de Médecine interne, AP-HP, Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Hoertel
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1266, Institut de Psychiatrie et Neuroscience de Paris, Paris, France
- Service de Psychiatrie et Addictologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Corentin-Celton, DMU Psychiatrie et Addictologie, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
| | - Sofiane Kab
- Population-based Cohorts Unit, Paris Saclay University, Paris, France
| | - Marcel Goldberg
- Population-based Cohorts Unit, Paris Saclay University, Paris, France
| | - Marie Zins
- Population-based Cohorts Unit, Paris Saclay University, Paris, France
| | - Cédric Lemogne
- Service de Psychiatrie de l'adulte, AP-HP, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm; INRAE, Center for Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Paris, France
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Banerjee A. Disparities by Social Determinants of Health: Links Between Long COVID and Cardiovascular Disease. Can J Cardiol 2024:S0828-282X(24)00182-X. [PMID: 38428523 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2024.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Long COVID has been defined by the World Health Organisation as "continuation or development of new symptoms 3 months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, with these symptoms lasting for at least 2 months with no other explanation." Cardiovascular disease is implicated as a risk factor, concomitant condition, and consequence of long COVID. As well as heterogeneity in definition, presentation, and likely underlying pathophysiology of long COVID, disparities by social determinants of health, extensively studied and described in cardiovascular disease, have been observed in 3 ways. First, underlying long-term conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, are associated with incidence and severity of long COVID, and previously described socioeconomic disparities in these factors are important in exacerbating disparities in long COVID. Second, socioeconomic disparities in management of COVID-19 may themselves lead to distal disparities in long COVID. Third, there are socioeconomic disparities in the way that long COVID is diagnosed, managed, and prevented. Together, factors such as age, sex, deprivation, and ethnicity have far-reaching implications in this new postviral syndrome across its management spectrum. There are similarities and differences compared with disparities for cardiovascular disease. Some of these disparities are in fact, inequalities, that is, rather than simply observed variations, they represent injustices with costs to individuals, communities, and economies. This review of current literature considers opportunities to prevent or at least attenuate these socioeconomic disparities in long COVID and cardiovascular disease, with special challenges for research, clinical practice, public health, and policy in a new disease which is evolving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amitava Banerjee
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
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Goldenberg DL. Applying Lessons From Rheumatology to Better Understand Long COVID. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2024; 76:49-56. [PMID: 37525488 DOI: 10.1002/acr.25210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Long COVID can sometimes be attributed to organ damage and well-characterized pathophysiology, but more often there is no evidence of organ damage or abnormal biomarkers. This is most evident in patients with mild to moderate initial SARS-CoV-2 infection who were not hospitalized. Their persistent symptoms are strikingly similar to those of fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, including fatigue, post-exertional malaise, myalgias/arthralgias, and sleep and cognitive disturbances in 50% to 100% of cases. Analogous pathophysiologic pathways in fibromyalgia (FM), myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and long COVID include host-microbial interactions in the absence of direct tissue invasion and absence of systemic autoimmunity, with evidence for immune dysregulation as well as autonomic, peripheral, and central nervous system dysfunction. Current treatment of long COVID has been based on multidisciplinary management recommended for FM and ME/CFS and has been formalized and made widely available by funding for nationwide long COVID clinics. Long COVID and its treatment should be distinguished by the presence or absence of organ damage. The acknowledged role of patient engagement in research and open dialogue regarding work and disability noted in long COVID may have meaningful impact on patients with FM and ME/CFS. Hopefully, advances in basic long COVID research will aid in understanding FM and ME/CFS, and rheumatologists should thus be involved in such research and patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don L Goldenberg
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, and Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland
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Ruzicka M, Ibarra Fonseca GJ, Sachenbacher S, Heimkes F, Grosse-Wentrup F, Wunderlich N, Benesch C, Pernpruner A, Valdinoci E, Rueb M, Uebleis AO, Karch S, Bogner J, Mayerle J, von Bergwelt-Baildon M, Subklewe M, Heindl B, Stubbe HC, Adorjan K. Substantial differences in perception of disease severity between post COVID-19 patients, internists, and psychiatrists or psychologists: the Health Perception Gap and its clinical implications. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023:10.1007/s00406-023-01700-z. [PMID: 37955681 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01700-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) such as the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) or Likert scales addressing various domains of health are important tools to assess disease severity in Post COVID-19 (PC) patients. By design, they are subjective in nature and prone to bias. Our findings reveal substantial differences in the perception of disease severity between patients (PAT), their attending internists (INT) and psychiatrists/psychologists (PSY). Patients rated almost all aspects of their health worse than INT or PSY. Most of the differences were statistically highly significant. The presence of fatigue and mood disorders correlated negatively with health perception. The physical health section of the WHO Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQoL-BREF) and Karnofsky index correlated positively with overall and mental health ratings by PAT and INT. Health ratings by neither PAT, PSY nor INT were associated with the number of abnormal findings in diagnostic procedures. This study highlights how strongly perceptions of disease severity diverge between PC patients and attending medical staff. Imprecise communication, different experiences regarding health and disease, and confounding psychological factors may explain these observations. Discrepancies in disease perception threaten patient-physician relationships and pose strong confounders in clinical studies. Established scores (e.g., WHOQoL-BREF, Karnofsky index) may represent an approach to overcome these discrepancies. Physicians and psychologists noting harsh differences between a patient's and their own perception of the patient's health should apply screening tools for mood disorders (i.e., PHQ-9, WHOQoL-BREF), psychosomatic symptom burden (SSD-12, FCV-19) and consider further psychological evaluation. An interdisciplinary approach to PC patients remains imperative. Trial Registration Number & Date of Registration: DRKS00030974, 22 Dec 2022, retrospectively registered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Ruzicka
- Department of Medicine III, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
| | | | - Simone Sachenbacher
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Fides Heimkes
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Fabienne Grosse-Wentrup
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nora Wunderlich
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christopher Benesch
- Department of Medicine II, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Pernpruner
- Department of Medicine II, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Valdinoci
- Department of Medicine II, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Mike Rueb
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Aline Olivia Uebleis
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Susanne Karch
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Bogner
- Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Mayerle
- Department of Medicine II, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael von Bergwelt-Baildon
- Department of Medicine III, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Marion Subklewe
- Department of Medicine III, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Bernhard Heindl
- Stabstelle Strategische Unternehmenssteuerung, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hans Christian Stubbe
- Department of Medicine II, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kristina Adorjan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
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