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Mahl D, Schäfer MS, Voinea SA, Adib K, Duncan B, Salvi C, Novillo-Ortiz D. Responsible artificial intelligence in public health: a Delphi study on risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management. BMJ Glob Health 2025; 10:e018545. [PMID: 40409762 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-018545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2025] [Indexed: 05/25/2025] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the potential to fundamentally transform how public health authorities use risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management (RCCE-IM) to prepare for, manage and mitigate public health emergencies. As research on this crucial transformation remains limited, we conducted a modified Delphi study on the impact of AI on RCCE-IM. METHODS In two successive surveys, 54 experts-scholars with expertise in public health, digital health, health communication, risk communication and AI, as well as RCCE-IM professionals-from 27 countries assessed opportunities, challenges and risks of AI, anticipated future scenarios, and identified principles and actions to facilitate the responsible use of AI. The first Delphi round followed an open, exploratory approach, while the second sought to prioritise and rank key findings from the initial phase. Qualitative thematic analysis and statistical methods were applied to evaluate responses. RESULTS According to the expert panel, AI could be highly beneficial, particularly for risk communication (eg, tailoring messages) and infodemic management (eg, social listening), while its utility for fostering community engagement was viewed more critically. Challenges and risks affect all three components of RCCE-IM equally, with algorithmic bias and privacy breaches being of particular concern. Panellists anticipated both optimistic (eg, democratisation of information) and pessimistic (eg, erosion of public trust) future scenarios. They identified seven principles for the responsible use of AI for public health practices, with equity and transparency being the most important. Prioritised actions ranged from regulatory measures, resource allocation and feedback loops to capacity building, public trust initiatives and educational training. CONCLUSION To responsibly navigate the multifaceted opportunities, challenges and risks of AI for RCCE-IM in public health emergencies, clear guiding principles, ongoing critical evaluation and training as well as societal collaboration across countries are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Mahl
- Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mike S Schäfer
- Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Keyrellous Adib
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ben Duncan
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cristiana Salvi
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Duenas K, Chwa WJ, Hoque F. Overview of Long COVID: Navigating the Aftermath. JOURNAL OF BROWN HOSPITAL MEDICINE 2025; 4:133879. [PMID: 40391044 PMCID: PMC12088664 DOI: 10.56305/001c.133879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2025] [Indexed: 05/21/2025]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was a global health crisis with far-reaching consequences. Among these were physical and mental health complications that emerged weeks or even months after the initial COVID-19 infection, collectively termed "long COVID" or "post-COVID syndrome." Identifying the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and management strategies for long COVID is crucial for both clinicians and patients, which is the focus of this review. The prevalence of long COVID varies across studies, generally ranging from 5% to 20%. Prominent risk factors include female sex, older age, a high number of acute symptoms, lower socioeconomic status, and underlying comorbidities such as diabetes, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The clinical manifestations of long COVID are diverse; beyond the commonly reported symptoms of fatigue, malaise, ageusia, and anosmia, neuropsychiatric complications such as headache, cognitive deficits, and depression are also potential outcomes. Although there is currently no consensus on the management of long COVID, multidisciplinary care teams with appropriate referrals and follow-up diagnostic studies are essential in evaluating the clinical course of long COVID patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Farzana Hoque
- Division of Hospital Medicine Saint Louis University
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Treadwell JR, Wagner J, Reston JT, Phillips T, Hedden-Gross A, Tipton KN. Treatments for Long COVID autonomic dysfunction: a scoping review. Clin Auton Res 2025; 35:5-29. [PMID: 39658729 DOI: 10.1007/s10286-024-01081-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 10/22/2024] [Indexed: 12/12/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE For Long COVID autonomic dysfunction, we have summarized published evidence on treatment effectiveness, clinical practice guidelines, and unpublished/ongoing studies. METHODS We first interviewed 11 stakeholders (clinicians, clinician/researchers, payors, patient advocates) to gain clinical insights and identify key areas of focus. We searched Embase, CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, and PubMed databases for relevant English-language articles published between 1 January 2020 and 30 April 2024. We also searched several other resources for additional relevant guidelines (e.g., UpToDate) and unpublished/ongoing studies (e.g., the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform). All information was summarized narratively. RESULTS We included 11 effectiveness studies that investigated numerous treatment regimens (fexofenadine + famotidine, maraviroc + pravastatin, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, nutraceutical formulations, multicomponent treatments, heart rate variability biofeedback, inspiratory muscle training, or stellate ganglion block). One randomized trial reported benefits of a nutraceutical (SIM01) on fatigue and gastrointestinal upset. The 11 guidelines and position statements addressed numerous aspects of treatment, but primarily exercise/rehabilitation, fluid/salt intake, and the use of compression garments. The 15 unpublished/ongoing studies are testing nine different interventions, most prominently ivabradine and intravenous immunoglobulin. CONCLUSION Existing studies on the treatment of Long COVID autonomic dysfunction are often small and uncontrolled, making it unclear whether the observed pre-post changes were due solely to the administered treatments. Guidelines display some overlap, and we identified no direct contradictions. Unpublished/ongoing studies may shed light on this critical area of patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R Treadwell
- ECRI-Penn Evidence-Based Practice Center, 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA, 19462, USA.
| | - Jesse Wagner
- ECRI-Penn Evidence-Based Practice Center, 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA, 19462, USA
| | - James T Reston
- ECRI-Penn Evidence-Based Practice Center, 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA, 19462, USA
| | - Taylor Phillips
- ECRI-Penn Evidence-Based Practice Center, 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA, 19462, USA
| | - Allison Hedden-Gross
- ECRI-Penn Evidence-Based Practice Center, 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA, 19462, USA
| | - Kelley N Tipton
- ECRI-Penn Evidence-Based Practice Center, 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA, 19462, USA
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Tcherner S, Parraga G. Editorial for "Phase-resolved Functional Lung (PREFUL) MRI May Reveal Distinct Pulmonary Perfusion Defects in Postacute COVID-19 Syndrome: Sex, Hospitalization, and Dyspnea Heterogeneity". J Magn Reson Imaging 2025; 61:863-864. [PMID: 38888494 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.29460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sam Tcherner
- Robarts Research Institute, THe University of Western ONtario, London, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Grace Parraga
- Robarts Research Institute, THe University of Western ONtario, London, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
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An Y, He L, Xu X, Piao M, Wang B, Liu T, Cao H. Gut microbiota in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome: not the end of the story. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1500890. [PMID: 39777148 PMCID: PMC11703812 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1500890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2024] [Accepted: 12/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2025] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to major global health concern. However, the focus on immediate effects was assumed as the tip of iceberg due to the symptoms following acute infection, which was defined as post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS). Gut microbiota alterations even after disease resolution and the gastrointestinal symptoms are the key features of PACS. Gut microbiota and derived metabolites disorders may play a crucial role in inflammatory and immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection through the gut-lung axis. Diet is one of the modifiable factors closely related to gut microbiota and COVID-19. In this review, we described the reciprocal crosstalk between gut and lung, highlighting the participation of diet and gut microbiota in and after COVID-19 by destroying the gut barrier, perturbing the metabolism and regulating the immune system. Therefore, bolstering beneficial species by dietary supplements, probiotics or prebiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) may be a novel avenue for COVID-19 and PACS prevention. This review provides a better understanding of the association between gut microbiota and the long-term consequences of COVID-19, which indicates modulating gut dysbiosis may be a potentiality for addressing this multifaceted condition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Tianyu Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Institute of Digestive Diseases, National Key Clinical Specialty, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hailong Cao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Institute of Digestive Diseases, National Key Clinical Specialty, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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Lieberwerth M, Niemeijer A. Lost and changed meaning in life of people with Long Covid: a qualitative study. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being 2024; 19:2289668. [PMID: 38055787 PMCID: PMC11737832 DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2023.2289668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Long Covid (LC) has been called the greatest mass-disabling event in human history. For patients, LC not only has implications for quality of life but also for meaning in life: how one's life and the world are understood and what is seen as valuable in one's life. This qualitative empirical study used a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach to investigate the meaning in life of people struggling with LC through ten patient interviews. This study shows that patients lose their prior understanding of life and come to a changed meaning in life, in part due to the experienced (social) isolation and loss of (both physical and cognitive) abilities caused by LC. Moreover, patients struggled with acceptance, uncertainty, and the inherent incomprehensibility and uncontrollability that living with LC entails, though this simultaneously co-existed with hope, optimism and acceptance. Additionally, dimensions of meaning intersect; a patient having some understanding of their illness (dimension of meaning: comprehension) required an understanding Other (dimension of meaning: connection). Emerging from lockdown brought the challenge and isolation of adjusting to chronic illness in society as usual (albeit divided about COVID-19 measures). This study thus offers novel insights regarding changed, present, and sought meaning in life for LC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alistair Niemeijer
- Department of Ethics of Care, University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Zeraatkar D, Ling M, Kirsh S, Jassal T, Shahab M, Movahed H, Talukdar JR, Walch A, Chakraborty S, Turner T, Turkstra L, McIntyre RS, Izcovich A, Mbuagbaw L, Agoritsas T, Flottorp SA, Garner P, Pitre T, Couban RJ, Busse JW. Interventions for the management of long covid (post-covid condition): living systematic review. BMJ 2024; 387:e081318. [PMID: 39603702 PMCID: PMC11600537 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2024-081318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/30/2024] [Indexed: 11/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of interventions for the management of long covid (post-covid condition). DESIGN Living systematic review. DATA SOURCES Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to December 2023. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Trials that randomised adults (≥18 years) with long covid to drug or non-drug interventions, placebo or sham, or usual care. RESULTS 24 trials with 3695 patients were eligible. Four trials (n=708 patients) investigated drug interventions, eight (n=985) physical activity or rehabilitation, three (n=314) behavioural, four (n=794) dietary, four (n=309) medical devices and technologies, and one (n=585) a combination of physical exercise and mental health rehabilitation. Moderate certainty evidence suggested that, compared with usual care, an online programme of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) probably reduces fatigue (mean difference -8.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) -13.11 to -3.69; Checklist for Individual Strength fatigue subscale; range 8-56, higher scores indicate greater impairment) and probably improves concentration (mean difference -5.2, -7.97 to -2.43; Checklist for Individual Strength concentration problems subscale; range 4-28; higher scores indicate greater impairment). Moderate certainty evidence suggested that, compared with usual care, an online, supervised, combined physical and mental health rehabilitation programme probably leads to improvement in overall health, with an estimated 161 more patients per 1000 (95% CI 61 more to 292 more) experiencing meaningful improvement or recovery, probably reduces symptoms of depression (mean difference -1.50, -2.41 to -0.59; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale depression subscale; range 0-21; higher scores indicate greater impairment), and probably improves quality of life (0.04, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.08; Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 29+2 Profile; range -0.022-1; higher scores indicate less impairment). Moderate certainty evidence suggested that intermittent aerobic exercise 3-5 times weekly for 4-6 weeks probably improves physical function compared with continuous exercise (mean difference 3.8, 1.12 to 6.48; SF-36 physical component summary score; range 0-100; higher scores indicate less impairment). No compelling evidence was found to support the effectiveness of other interventions, including, among others, vortioxetine, leronlimab, combined probiotics-prebiotics, coenzyme Q10, amygdala and insula retraining, combined L-arginine and vitamin C, inspiratory muscle training, transcranial direct current stimulation, hyperbaric oxygen, a mobile application providing education on long covid. CONCLUSION Moderate certainty evidence suggests that CBT and physical and mental health rehabilitation probably improve symptoms of long covid. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION Open Science Framework https://osf.io/9h7zm/. READERS' NOTE This article is a living systematic review that will be updated to reflect emerging evidence. Updates may occur for up to two years from the date of original publication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dena Zeraatkar
- Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Michael Ling
- Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah Kirsh
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Tanvir Jassal
- Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Mahnoor Shahab
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Hamed Movahed
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jhalok Ronjan Talukdar
- Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Alicia Walch
- Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Samantha Chakraborty
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tari Turner
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lyn Turkstra
- School of Rehabilitation Science and Program in Neuroscience, McMaster University, ON, Canada
| | - Roger S McIntyre
- Department of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ariel Izcovich
- Department of Medicine, Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lawrence Mbuagbaw
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Thomas Agoritsas
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Division General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- The MAGIC Evidence Ecosystem Foundation, Oslo, Norway
| | - Signe A Flottorp
- Centre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Paul Garner
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Tyler Pitre
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rachel J Couban
- Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jason W Busse
- Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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Curvelo RD, Ribeiro AC, da Silva André Uehara SC. Health care for patients with long COVID: a scoping review. Rev Esc Enferm USP 2024; 58:e20240056. [PMID: 39475394 PMCID: PMC11524158 DOI: 10.1590/1980-220x-reeusp-2024-0056en] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 11/02/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To map the scientific evidence on the care offered to health service users with Long Covid-19. METHOD This is a scoping review based on the methods of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Primary studies were included, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, published between December 2019 and June 2023, in the Virtual Health Library, Web of Science, Scopus, PUBMED, SciELO and LITCovid LongCovid databases. RESULTS Of the ١٣ articles analyzed, it stands out that the care provided to patients with Long Covid is associated with drug prescription, indication of physical exercises, telerehabilitation and physiotherapy. CONCLUSION A fragmentation was identified in the care provided to users of health services with Long Covid, with care directed only at isolated symptoms, without addressing the biopsychosocial care that people with this condition need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Deharo Curvelo
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Enfermagem, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Ribeiro
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Enfermagem, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
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Veras Florentino PT, Araújo VDO, Zatti H, Luis CV, Cavalcanti CRS, de Oliveira MHC, Leão AHFF, Bertoldo Junior J, Barbosa GGC, Ravera E, Cebukin A, David RB, de Melo DBV, Machado TM, Bellei NCJ, Boaventura V, Barral-Netto M, Smaili SS. Text mining method to unravel long COVID's clinical condition in hospitalized patients. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:671. [PMID: 39271699 PMCID: PMC11399332 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-07043-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 08/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
Long COVID is characterized by persistent that extends symptoms beyond established timeframes. Its varied presentation across different populations and healthcare systems poses significant challenges in understanding its clinical manifestations and implications. In this study, we present a novel application of text mining technique to automatically extract unstructured data from a long COVID survey conducted at a prominent university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Our phonetic text clustering (PTC) method enables the exploration of unstructured Electronic Healthcare Records (EHR) data to unify different written forms of similar terms into a single phonemic representation. We used n-gram text analysis to detect compound words and negated terms in Portuguese-BR, focusing on medical conditions and symptoms related to long COVID. By leveraging text mining, we aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of this chronic condition and its implications for healthcare systems globally. The model developed in this study has the potential for scalability and applicability in other healthcare settings, thereby supporting broader research efforts and informing clinical decision-making for long COVID patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Tavares Veras Florentino
- Laboratório de Medicina e Saúde Pública de Precisão (MeSP2), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
- Centro de Integração de Dados e Conhecimentos para a Saúde (CIDACS), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Vinícius de Oliveira Araújo
- Centro de Integração de Dados e Conhecimentos para a Saúde (CIDACS), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Henrique Zatti
- Centro de Integração de Dados e Conhecimentos para a Saúde (CIDACS), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Caio Vinícius Luis
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Juracy Bertoldo Junior
- Centro de Integração de Dados e Conhecimentos para a Saúde (CIDACS), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
| | - George G Caique Barbosa
- Centro de Integração de Dados e Conhecimentos para a Saúde (CIDACS), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Ernesto Ravera
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alberto Cebukin
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renata Bernardes David
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Tales Mota Machado
- Centro de Integração de Dados e Conhecimentos para a Saúde (CIDACS), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
- Diretoria de Tecnologia da Informação, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Nancy C J Bellei
- Disciplina de Moléstias Infecciosas, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Viviane Boaventura
- Laboratório de Medicina e Saúde Pública de Precisão (MeSP2), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Manoel Barral-Netto
- Laboratório de Medicina e Saúde Pública de Precisão (MeSP2), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil.
- Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
| | - Soraya S Smaili
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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10
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Van Laake T, Hitch D. Supporting rehabilitation practice for COVID-19 recovery: a descriptive qualitative analysis of allied health perspectives. AUST HEALTH REV 2024; 48:469-475. [PMID: 38637960 DOI: 10.1071/ah23210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Objective The study aimed to explore the perspective of healthcare workers on the resources they need to provide quality rehabilitation for people recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Methods A descriptive qualitative approach using reflexive thematic analysis was employed. Focus groups and interviews were performed with nine healthcare workers (one intensive care unit physiotherapist, one respiratory therapist and seven occupational therapists) with experience treating patients recovering from COVID-19 infection within hospital and in the community. Verbatim transcripts were coded and analysed for themes. Results Healthcare workers perceive an urgent need for resources about recovery from COVID-19 infection to support quality care. They particularly want detailed guidance about potential trajectories of recovery, and what should be expected over time for people with long COVID. Many observed that this group of patients had higher oxygen requirement and experienced slower recovery than others with serious respiratory conditions. Supports for quality care do exist but were not perceived as sufficient by participants. They want any new resources developed to be accessible, quick to access and targeted to specific healthcare worker roles and services settings. Participants identified several barriers to accessing practice supports, including the time poor nature of health care and financial costs to both patients and healthcare workers. Conclusion Healthcare workers perceive an urgent need for the development of resources to support quality rehabilitation for people recovering from COVID-19 infection, to support best outcomes for this group of patients. Any resources developed must consider identified barriers to their access and use to maximise their impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanis Van Laake
- The University of Melbourne, Parkville Campus, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Danielle Hitch
- Deakin University, Waterfront Campus, Occupational Science & Therapy, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Vic., Australia; and Western Health, Sunshine Hospital, St. Albans, Vic., Australia
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11
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Broughan J, Sietiņš E, Emily Siu KY, Clendennen N, Collins C, Fawsitt R, Lambert JS, Savinelli S, Skeffington S, McCombe G, Cullen W. Enhancing long COVID care in general practice: A qualitative study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306077. [PMID: 38924005 PMCID: PMC11207167 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Research suggests that general practice can play an important role in managing long COVID. However, studies investigating the perspectives of general practitioners (GPs) and patients are lacking and knowledge regarding optimal long COVID care in general practice is therefore limited. AIM To investigate GPs' and patients' perspectives on the topic of long COVID and its management in general practice. METHODS Brief questionnaires (GP n = 11, Patient n = 7) and in-depth semi-structured interviews (GP n = 10, Patient n = 7) were conducted with GPs and patients from Irish general practices during July 2022-January 2023. Interviews were conducted via telephone and audio recordings were transcribed. A phenomenological analysis involving reflexive thematic analysis and constant comparison techniques was adopted. RESULTS Analysis of interviews with GPs (male = 7, female = 3; median age = 50yrs (IQR = 39.5-56)) and patients (males = 2, female = 5; median age = 58yrs (IQR = 45-62yrs) generated four themes. These were (1) Complex presentations (2) the value of standardising care, (3) choosing the right path, and (4) supportive and collaborative doctor-patient relationships. Strong agreement was observed among GPs and patients regarding the need for holistic and integrated multidisciplinary care. Supportive and collaborative doctor-patient relationships were largely well received by GPs and patients also. GPs strongly endorsed standardising long COVID care operations. CONCLUSION GPs and patients indicated that structured, integrated, and collaborative care can help optimise long COVID management in general practice. GPs are advised to incorporate these elements into their long COVID care practices going forward. Future research examining stakeholder's perspectives using larger and longitudinal samples is advised to enhance the generalisability of evidence in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Broughan
- Clinical Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Emīls Sietiņš
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Nia Clendennen
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- The Coombe Family Practice, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Claire Collins
- Irish College of General Practitioners, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Ronan Fawsitt
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Castle Gardens Surgery, Kilkenny, Ireland
- Ireland East Hospital Group, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John S. Lambert
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Mater Misericordiae University Hospital Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- The Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stefano Savinelli
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Geoff McCombe
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Walter Cullen
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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12
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van der Feltz-Cornelis CM, Sweetman J, Turk F, Allsopp G, Gabbay M, Khunti K, Williams N, Montgomery H, Heightman M, Lip GYH, Crooks MG, Strain WD, Loveless A, Hishmeh L, Smith N, Banerjee A. Integrated care policy recommendations for complex multisystem long term conditions and long COVID. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13634. [PMID: 38871773 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64060-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The importance of integrated care for complex, multiple long term conditions was acknowledged before the COVID pandemic but remained a challenge. The pandemic and consequent development of Long COVID required rapid adaptation of health services to address the population's needs, requiring service redesigns including integrated care. This Delphi consensus study was conducted in the UK and found similar integrated care priorities for Long COVID and complex, multiple long term conditions, provided by 480 patients and health care providers, with an 80% consensus rate. The resultant recommendations were based on more than 1400 responses from survey participants and were supported by patients, health care professionals, and by patient charities. Participants identified the need to allocate resources to: support integrated care, provide access to care and treatments that work, provide diagnostic procedures that support the personalization of treatment in an integrated care environment, and enable structural consultation between primary and specialist care settings including physical and mental health care. Based on the findings we propose a model for delivering integrated care by a multidisciplinary team to people with complex multisystem conditions. These recommendations can inform improvements to integrated care for complex, multiple long term conditions and Long COVID at international level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M van der Feltz-Cornelis
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK.
- Hull York Medical School, (HYMS), University of York, York, UK.
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK.
| | | | - Fidan Turk
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | - Gail Allsopp
- Royal College of General Practitioners, London, UK
| | - Mark Gabbay
- Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Kamlesh Khunti
- Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Nefyn Williams
- Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Hugh Montgomery
- Department of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Melissa Heightman
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Gregory Y H Lip
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Liverpool, UK
- Danish Center for Health Services Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Michael G Crooks
- Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull, UK
| | - W David Strain
- Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Research Centre, Institute of Clinical and Biomedical Science and College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Lyth Hishmeh
- PPI Member for STIMULATE-ICP Consortium, London, UK
| | - Natalie Smith
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | - Amitava Banerjee
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Cardiology, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK
- Department of Cardiology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
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13
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Greene CM, Abdulkadir M. Global respiratory health priorities at the beginning of the 21st century. Eur Respir Rev 2024; 33:230205. [PMID: 38599674 PMCID: PMC11004770 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0205-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Respiratory health has become a prevailing priority amid the diverse global health challenges that the 21st century brings, due to its substantial impact on individuals and communities on a global scale. Due to rapid advances in medicine, emerging knowledge gaps appear along with new challenges and ethical considerations. While breakthroughs in medical science can bring about encouraging possibilities for better treatments and interventions, they also lead to unanswered questions and areas where further research is warranted. A PubMed search on the topic "global respiratory health priorities" between the years 2000 and 2023 was conducted, which returned 236 articles. Of these, 55 were relevant and selected for inclusion in this article. The selection process took into account literature reviews, opinions from expert groups and careful analysis of existing gaps and challenges within the field; our selection encompasses specific infectious and noninfectious respiratory conditions in both adults and children. The global respiratory health priorities identified were selected on the basis that they have been recognised as critical areas of investigation and potential advancement and they span across clinical, translational, epidemiological and population health domains. Implementing these priorities will require a commitment to fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among experts in different fields with the ultimate aim to improve respiratory health outcomes for individuals and communities alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M Greene
- Lung Biology Group, Department of Clinical Microbiology, RCSI University of Medicine and Heath Sciences, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mohamed Abdulkadir
- Lung Biology Group, Department of Clinical Microbiology, RCSI University of Medicine and Heath Sciences, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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14
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Wild JM, Gleeson FV, Svenningsen S, Grist JT, Saunders LC, Collier GJ, Sharma M, Tcherner S, Mozaffaripour A, Matheson AM, Parraga G. Review of Hyperpolarized Pulmonary Functional 129 Xe MR for Long-COVID. J Magn Reson Imaging 2024; 59:1120-1134. [PMID: 37548112 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The respiratory consequences of acute COVID-19 infection and related symptoms tend to resolve 4 weeks post-infection. However, for some patients, new, recurrent, or persisting symptoms remain beyond the acute phase and persist for months, post-infection. The symptoms that remain have been referred to as long-COVID. A number of research sites employed 129 Xe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the pandemic and evaluated patients post-infection, months after hospitalization or home-based care as a way to better understand the consequences of infection on 129 Xe MR gas-exchange and ventilation imaging. A systematic review and comprehensive search were employed using MEDLINE via PubMed (April 2023) using the National Library of Medicine's Medical Subject Headings and key words: post-COVID-19, MRI, 129 Xe, long-COVID, COVID pneumonia, and post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Fifteen peer-reviewed manuscripts were identified including four editorials, a single letter to the editor, one review article, and nine original research manuscripts (2020-2023). MRI and MR spectroscopy results are summarized from these prospective, controlled studies, which involved small sample sizes ranging from 9 to 76 participants. Key findings included: 1) 129 Xe MRI gas-exchange and ventilation abnormalities, 3 months post-COVID-19 infection, and 2) a combination of MRI gas-exchange and ventilation abnormalities alongside persistent symptoms in patients hospitalized and not hospitalized for COVID-19, 1-year post-infection. The persistence of respiratory symptoms and 129 Xe MRI abnormalities in the context of normal or nearly normal pulmonary function test results and chest computed tomography (CT) was consistent. Longitudinal improvements were observed in long-term follow-up of long-COVID patients but mean 129 Xe gas-exchange, ventilation heterogeneity values and symptoms remained abnormal, 1-year post-infection. Pulmonary functional MRI using inhaled hyperpolarized 129 Xe gas has played a role in detecting gas-exchange and ventilation abnormalities providing complementary information that may help develop our understanding of the root causes of long-COVID. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jim M Wild
- POLARIS, Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Fergus V Gleeson
- Department of Radiology, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah Svenningsen
- Department of Medicine, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - James T Grist
- Department of Radiology, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK
| | - Laura C Saunders
- POLARIS, Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Guilhem J Collier
- POLARIS, Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Maksym Sharma
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sam Tcherner
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ali Mozaffaripour
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexander M Matheson
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Grace Parraga
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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15
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Gheorghita R, Soldanescu I, Lobiuc A, Caliman Sturdza OA, Filip R, Constantinescu – Bercu A, Dimian M, Mangul S, Covasa M. The knowns and unknowns of long COVID-19: from mechanisms to therapeutical approaches. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1344086. [PMID: 38500880 PMCID: PMC10944866 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1344086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has been defined as the greatest global health and socioeconomic crisis of modern times. While most people recover after being infected with the virus, a significant proportion of them continue to experience health issues weeks, months and even years after acute infection with SARS-CoV-2. This persistence of clinical symptoms in infected individuals for at least three months after the onset of the disease or the emergence of new symptoms lasting more than two months, without any other explanation and alternative diagnosis have been named long COVID, long-haul COVID, post-COVID-19 conditions, chronic COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). Long COVID has been characterized as a constellation of symptoms and disorders that vary widely in their manifestations. Further, the mechanisms underlying long COVID are not fully understood, which hamper efficient treatment options. This review describes predictors and the most common symptoms related to long COVID's effects on the central and peripheral nervous system and other organs and tissues. Furthermore, the transcriptional markers, molecular signaling pathways and risk factors for long COVID, such as sex, age, pre-existing condition, hospitalization during acute phase of COVID-19, vaccination, and lifestyle are presented. Finally, recommendations for patient rehabilitation and disease management, as well as alternative therapeutical approaches to long COVID sequelae are discussed. Understanding the complexity of this disease, its symptoms across multiple organ systems and overlapping pathologies and its possible mechanisms are paramount in developing diagnostic tools and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Gheorghita
- Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Biological Science, University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania
| | - Iuliana Soldanescu
- Integrated Center for Research, Development and Innovation for Advanced Materials, Nanotechnologies, Manufacturing and Control Distributed Systems (MANSiD), University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania
| | - Andrei Lobiuc
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Biological Science, University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania
| | - Olga Adriana Caliman Sturdza
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Biological Science, University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania
- Suceava Emergency Clinical County Hospital, Suceava, Romania
| | - Roxana Filip
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Biological Science, University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania
- Suceava Emergency Clinical County Hospital, Suceava, Romania
| | - Adela Constantinescu – Bercu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Biological Science, University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Hemostasis Research Unit, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom
| | - Mihai Dimian
- Integrated Center for Research, Development and Innovation for Advanced Materials, Nanotechnologies, Manufacturing and Control Distributed Systems (MANSiD), University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania
- Department of Computer, Electronics and Automation, University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania
| | - Serghei Mangul
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Mihai Covasa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Biological Science, University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pomona, CA, United States
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16
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Seo JW, Kim SE, Kim Y, Kim EJ, Kim T, Kim T, Lee SH, Lee E, Lee J, Seo YB, Jeong YH, Jung YH, Choi YJ, Song JY. Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Long COVID. Infect Chemother 2024; 56:122-157. [PMID: 38527781 PMCID: PMC10990882 DOI: 10.3947/ic.2024.0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
"Long COVID" is a term used to describe a condition when the symptoms and signs associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) persist for more than three months among patients infected with COVID-19; this condition has been reported globally and poses a serious public health issue. Long COVID can manifest in various forms, highlighting the need for appropriate evaluation and management by experts from various fields. However, due to the lack of clear clinical definitions, knowledge of pathophysiology, diagnostic methods, and treatment protocols, it is necessary to develop the best standard clinical guidelines based on the scientific evidence reported to date. We developed this clinical guideline for diagnosing and treating long COVID by analyzing the latest research data collected from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic until June 2023, along with the consensus of expert opinions. This guideline provides recommendations for diagnosis and treatment that can be applied in clinical practice, based on a total of 32 key questions related to patients with long COVID. The evaluation of patients with long COVID should be comprehensive, including medical history, physical examination, blood tests, imaging studies, and functional tests. To reduce the risk of developing long COVID, vaccination and antiviral treatment during the acute phase are recommended. This guideline will be revised when there is a reasonable need for updates based on the availability of new knowledge on the diagnosis and treatment of long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Won Seo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Seong Eun Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Yoonjung Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Eun Jung Kim
- Health, Welfare, Family and Gender Equality Team, National Assembly Research Service, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tark Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea
| | - Taehwa Kim
- Division of Pulmonology, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea
| | - So Hee Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eunjung Lee
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jacob Lee
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yu Bin Seo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young-Hoon Jeong
- CAU Thrombosis and Biomarker Center, Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital, Gwangmyeong, and Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Hee Jung
- Department of Neurology, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
| | - Yu Jung Choi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Joon Young Song
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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17
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Rao S, Gross RS, Mohandas S, Stein CR, Case A, Dreyer B, Pajor NM, Bunnell HT, Warburton D, Berg E, Overdevest JB, Gorelik M, Milner J, Saxena S, Jhaveri R, Wood JC, Rhee KE, Letts R, Maughan C, Guthe N, Castro-Baucom L, Stockwell MS. Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 in Children. Pediatrics 2024; 153:e2023062570. [PMID: 38321938 PMCID: PMC10904902 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-062570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant medical, social, and economic impacts globally, both in the short and long term. Although most individuals recover within a few days or weeks from an acute infection, some experience longer lasting effects. Data regarding the postacute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (PASC) in children, or long COVID, are only just emerging in the literature. These symptoms and conditions may reflect persistent symptoms from acute infection (eg, cough, headaches, fatigue, and loss of taste and smell), new symptoms like dizziness, or exacerbation of underlying conditions. Children may develop conditions de novo, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune conditions and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. This state-of-the-art narrative review provides a summary of our current knowledge about PASC in children, including prevalence, epidemiology, risk factors, clinical characteristics, underlying mechanisms, and functional outcomes, as well as a conceptual framework for PASC based on the current National Institutes of Health definition. We highlight the pediatric components of the National Institutes of Health-funded Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery Initiative, which seeks to characterize the natural history, mechanisms, and long-term health effects of PASC in children and young adults to inform future treatment and prevention efforts. These initiatives include electronic health record cohorts, which offer rapid assessments at scale with geographical and demographic diversity, as well as longitudinal prospective observational cohorts, to estimate disease burden, illness trajectory, pathobiology, and clinical manifestations and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suchitra Rao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Rachel S. Gross
- Departments of Pediatrics
- Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Sindhu Mohandas
- Division of Infectious Diseases
- Department of Pediatrics and Radiology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Cheryl R. Stein
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Abigail Case
- Department of Pediatrics and Rehabilitation Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Benard Dreyer
- Department of Pediatrics and Radiology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Nathan M. Pajor
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - H. Timothy Bunnell
- Biomedical Research Informatics Center, Nemours Children’s Health, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, Wilmington, Delaware
| | - David Warburton
- Department of Pediatrics and Radiology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Elizabeth Berg
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York
| | - Jonathan B. Overdevest
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York
| | - Mark Gorelik
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York
| | - Joshua Milner
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York
| | - Sejal Saxena
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York
| | - Ravi Jhaveri
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - John C. Wood
- Department of Pediatrics and Radiology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Kyung E. Rhee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, San Diego, California
| | - Rebecca Letts
- Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Christine Maughan
- Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Nick Guthe
- Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | | | - Melissa S. Stockwell
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York
- Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
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18
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Al‐Jabr H, Thompson DR, Castle DJ, Ski CF. Experiences of people with long COVID: Symptoms, support strategies and the Long COVID Optimal Health Programme (LC-OHP). Health Expect 2024; 27:e13879. [PMID: 37751413 PMCID: PMC10726154 DOI: 10.1111/hex.13879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Long COVID (LC) is a multisystem illness, with fluctuating symptoms that affect the daily activities of patients. There are still no standardised diagnostic criteria or treatment approaches for managing LC. The LC-Optimal Health Programme (LC-OHP) was designed to support the mental wellbeing and physical health of people with LC. Gaining an in-depth understanding of patients' experiences and support strategies is imperative to identifying appropriate supports to guide them through their recovery. This study aimed to elicit the experiences and perceptions of adults with LC regarding symptoms, support strategies and the LC-OHP. METHODS As part of a wider randomised controlled trial of the LC-OHP, participants in the intervention group had their sessions audio-recorded. Transcripts were thematically analysed to identify common emergent themes. FINDINGS The LC-OHP was delivered to 26 participants. Data were collected between January 2022 and February 2023. Four main themes emerged: 'Symptoms and impact of LC'; 'Other sources of support and perceived challenges'; 'Strategies to support LC' and 'Perceptions of the LC-OHP'. CONCLUSION LC experiences were mostly described as fluctuating and burdensome that significantly impacted daily activities, and physical and mental health. The LC-OHP was perceived as beneficial. Access and experiences of other sources of support were varied. Increasing LC awareness amongst health practitioners and the wider community has the potential to improve the experiences of those affected by LC. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION The LC-OHP was derived from the OHP. It was adapted to people with LC following consultation with practitioners at an LC clinic. Additionally, the mode and timing of delivering the programme to this population were taken into account for its delivery at the convenience of participating patients. While considering that fatigue and brain fog are amongst the most reported complaints of people with LC, public members with LC were not involved directly in this study; however, feedback obtained from practitioners working with this population was implemented in amending the programme and its delivery. Additionally, feedback from patients with other chronic health conditions who used the OHP in previous studies has been implemented to make the programme more user-friendly. Moreover, feedback obtained from participants receiving this programme in this study was implanted immediately and shared with other participants. Finally, this study was overviewed by a data management committee that included two public members with LC, who contributed and provided guidance to support this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiyam Al‐Jabr
- Primary Community and Social CareFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesUniversity of KeeleKeeleUK
| | | | - David J. Castle
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
- Centre for Mental Health Service InnovationHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Chantal F. Ski
- School of Nursing and MidwiferyQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
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19
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León-Herrera S, Oliván-Blázquez B, Samper-Pardo M, Aguilar-Latorre A, Sánchez Arizcuren R. Motivational Interviewing as a Tool to Increase Motivation and Adherence to a Long COVID Telerehabilitation Intervention: Secondary Data Analysis from a Randomized Clinical Trial. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2024; 17:157-169. [PMID: 38234406 PMCID: PMC10793119 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s433950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Although motivational interviewing was originally developed to address abuse disorders, scientific evidence confirms that it is an increasingly used and effective approach in a wide range of therapeutic interventions. To date, however, no studies have analyzed the use of this tool in patients with persistent symptoms following coronavirus disease 2019, a condition known as Long COVID. Purpose To analyze the effectiveness of motivational interviewing with regard to the adherence to telerehabilitation for Long COVID using a mobile application. As a secondary objective, factors related to greater motivation before and after the motivational interviewing techniques were analyzed. Patients and Methods This longitudinal design substudy used a sample of 52 adult patients with Long COVID participating in the intervention group of a randomized clinical trial. This trial examined the effectiveness of a telerehabilitation program for this population using a mobile application. This program included three motivational interviews to achieve maximum treatment adherence. In this study, the main variables were motivation and adherence to application use. Sociodemographic and clinical data, personal constructs, and affective state were also collected. Subsequently, a descriptive, correlational, and regression statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS Statistics program. Results The median motivation prior to the first motivational interview was 8 (IQR 2), the median at the end of the last motivational interview was 8.5 (IQR 2.75), and the change in motivation levels after the three motivational interviews was 0.5 (IQR 1). Affective state and final motivation scores were predictors of greater adherence to telerehabilitation treatment. Conclusion A high level of motivation after participating in motivational interviewing appears to be related to higher levels of adherence to telerehabilitation in patients with Long COVID. This suggests that motivational interviewing may be an effective tool in the treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra León-Herrera
- Institute for Health Research Aragón (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Bárbara Oliván-Blázquez
- Institute for Health Research Aragón (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Alejandra Aguilar-Latorre
- Institute for Health Research Aragón (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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20
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Sideratou CM, Papaneophytou C. Persisting Shadows: Unraveling the Impact of Long COVID-19 on Respiratory, Cardiovascular, and Nervous Systems. Infect Dis Rep 2023; 15:806-830. [PMID: 38131885 PMCID: PMC10742861 DOI: 10.3390/idr15060072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), instigated by the zoonotic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), rapidly transformed from an outbreak in Wuhan, China, into a widespread global pandemic. A significant post-infection condition, known as 'long- COVID-19' (or simply 'long- COVID'), emerges in a substantial subset of patients, manifesting with a constellation of over 200 reported symptoms that span multiple organ systems. This condition, also known as 'post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection' (PASC), presents a perplexing clinical picture with far-reaching implications, often persisting long after the acute phase. While initial research focused on the immediate pulmonary impact of the virus, the recognition of COVID-19 as a multiorgan disruptor has unveiled a gamut of protracted and severe health issues. This review summarizes the primary effects of long COVID on the respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. It also delves into the mechanisms underlying these impacts and underscores the critical need for a comprehensive understanding of long COVID's pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christos Papaneophytou
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, 2417 Nicosia, Cyprus;
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21
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Li X, Zhang C, Bao Z. Mast cell activation may contribute to adverse health transitions in COVID-19 patients with frailty. Emerg Microbes Infect 2023; 12:2251589. [PMID: 37606034 PMCID: PMC10469413 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2251589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
A prominent aspect of the post-coronavirus disease-2019 (post-COVID-19) era is long-COVID. Therefore, precise patient classification and exploration of the corresponding factors affecting long-COVID are crucial for tailored treatment strategies. Frailty is a common age-related clinical syndrome characterized by deteriorated physiological functions of multiple organ systems, which increases susceptibility to stressors. Herein, we performed an inclusion and exclusion analysis (definite COVID-19 infection diagnosis, clear underlying disease information, ≥60 years old, and repeated sampling of clinical cases) of 10,613 blood samples and identified frailty cases for further investigation. RNA-Seq data were used for differential gene expression and functional and pathway analyses. The results revealed that patients with frailty were more prone to poor health conversions and more sequelae, and the blood transcriptome had obvious disturbances in pathways associated with immune regulation, metabolism, and stress response. These adverse health transitions were significantly associated with mast cell activation. Additionally, NCAPG, MCM10, and CDC25C were identified as hub genes in the peripheral blood differential gene cluster, which could be used as diagnostic markers of poor health conversion. Our results indicate that healthcare measures should be prioritized to mitigate adverse health outcomes in this vulnerable patient group, COVID-19 patients with frailty, in post-COVID era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangqi Li
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Gongli Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chaobao Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine; Department of Geriatric Medicine, Huadong Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhijun Bao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine; Department of Geriatric Medicine, Huadong Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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Rotar Pavlic D, Maksuti A, Mihevc M, Munda A, Medija K, Strauch V. Long COVID as a never-ending puzzle: the experience of primary care physicians. A qualitative interview study. BJGP Open 2023; 7:BJGPO.2023.0074. [PMID: 37437953 PMCID: PMC11176678 DOI: 10.3399/bjgpo.2023.0074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long COVID provides a new context in which primary health care needs to be re-examined, especially because it has health and social dimensions. Primary care physicians' experiences and perceptions of caring for patients with long COVID are an underexplored area. AIM To explore the experiences of Slovenian primary care physicians in management and treatment of patients with long COVID. DESIGN & SETTING A qualitative interview study of physicians in Slovenian primary care. METHOD Semi-structured interviews were held with physicians who had treated patients with long COVID until saturation was reached. The interviews were carried out between November 2021 and April 2022. Qualitative content analysis (QCA) was used to analyse the data collected. RESULTS Seventeen participants were interviewed. The following five categories were defined based on the coding process: the definition and symptoms of long COVID; social exclusion; sick leave and returning to the work environment; cooperation with rehabilitation centres; and the importance of trust and good communication with the patient. CONCLUSION The study showed the experiences of Slovenian primary care physicians in the management and treatment of long COVID. The problems related to long COVID were divided into two groups: health problems and psychosocial problems. Slovenian physicians have the greatest problems with dealing with the patient's ability to work. It was found that adequate communication and trust between physicians and patients are two important indicators for an integrated model of managing long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danica Rotar Pavlic
- Galenia d.o.o, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Matic Mihevc
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Primary Healthcare Research and Development Institute, Health Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ana Munda
- University Clinical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Karmen Medija
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Viktor Strauch
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Panchyrz I, Hoffmann J, Harst L, Pohl S, Bauer M, Blaschke S, Bodenstein M, Engelhart S, Gärtner B, Graf J, Hanses F, Held HC, Hinzmann D, Khan N, Kleber C, Kolibay F, Kubulus D, Liske S, Oberfeld J, Pletz MW, Prückner S, Rohde G, Spinner CD, Stehr S, Willam C, Schmitt J. [Measures and Recommendations for Ensuring Adequate Inpatient Care Capacities for Pandemic Management within a Region: Results of a Hybrid Delphi Method]. DAS GESUNDHEITSWESEN 2023; 85:1173-1182. [PMID: 37604173 PMCID: PMC11248767 DOI: 10.1055/a-2109-9882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Since the beginning of the pandemic in spring 2020, inpatient healthcare has been under enormous burden, which is reflected especially in overworked staff, imprecise bed planning and/or data transfer. According to the recommendation of the Science Council, university clinics should play a controlling role in regional healthcare and act in conjunction with surrounding hospitals and practices. METHODS In September 2021, 31 representatives from 18 university hospitals were invited to a hybrid Delphi study with a total of 4 survey rounds to discuss criteria for effective inpatient care in a pandemic situation, which were extracted from previous expert interviews. Criteria that were classified as very important/relevant by≥75% of the participants in the first round of the survey (consensus definition) were then further summarized in 4 different small groups. In a third Delphi round, all participants came together again to discuss the results of the small group discussions. Subsequently, these were prioritized as Optional ("can"), Desirable ("should") or Necessary ("must") recommendations. RESULTS Of the invited clinical experts, 21 (67.7%) participated in at least one Delphi round. In an online survey (1st Delphi round), 233 criteria were agreed upon and reduced to 84 criteria for future pandemic management in four thematic small group discussions (2nd Delphi round) and divided into the small groups as follows: "Crisis Management and Crisis Plans" (n=20), "Human Resources Management and Internal Communication" (n=16), "Regional Integration and External Communication" (n=24) and "Capacity Management and Case & Care" (n=24). In the following group discussion (3rd Delphi round), the criteria were further modified and agreed upon by the experts, so that in the end result, there were 23 essential requirements and recommendations for effective inpatient care in a pandemic situation. CONCLUSION The results draw attention to key demands of clinical representatives, for example, comprehensive digitization, standardization of processes and better (supra) regional networking in order to be able to guarantee needs-based care even under pandemic conditions. The present consensus recommendations can serve as guidelines for future pandemic management in the inpatient care sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivonne Panchyrz
- TU Dresden, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Zentrum für Evidenzbasierte Gesundheitsversorgung, Dresden, Germany
| | - Julia Hoffmann
- TU Dresden, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Zentrum für Evidenzbasierte Gesundheitsversorgung, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lorenz Harst
- TU Dresden, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Zentrum für Evidenzbasierte Gesundheitsversorgung, Dresden, Germany
| | - Solveig Pohl
- TU Dresden, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Zentrum für Evidenzbasierte Gesundheitsversorgung, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Bauer
- Klinik für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Sabine Blaschke
- Zentrale Notaufnahme (ZNA), Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Gottingen, Germany
| | - Marc Bodenstein
- Klinik für Anästhesiologie, JGU Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Steffen Engelhart
- Institut für Hygiene und Public Health, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Barbara Gärtner
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes und Medizinische Fakultät der Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Graf
- Ärztlicher Direktor und Vorstandsvorsitzender des Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Frank Hanses
- Abteilung für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektiologie, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Hanns-Christoph Held
- Klinik für Viszeral-, Thorax- und Gefäßchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dominik Hinzmann
- Klinik für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Munchen, Germany
| | - Naseer Khan
- Stabsstelle Zentrales Patientenmanagement, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christian Kleber
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Unfallchirurgie und Plastische Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Felix Kolibay
- Stabsabteilung Klinikangelegenheiten und Krisenmanagement, Uniklinik Köln, Koln, Germany
| | - Darius Kubulus
- Zentrales OP-Management (ZOPM), Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes und Medizinische Fakultät der Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Liske
- Stabsstelle Unternehmensentwicklung und Prozessmanagement, Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Oberfeld
- Geschäftsbereich Medizinisches Management, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Mathias Wilhelm Pletz
- Institut für Infektionsmedizin und Krankenhaushygiene, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Stephan Prückner
- Institut für Notfallmedizin und Medizinmanagement (INM), Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Munchen, Germany
| | - Gernot Rohde
- Medizinische Klinik 1 - Pneumologie und Allergologie, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christoph D Spinner
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universitat Munchen, München, Germany
| | - Sebastian Stehr
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie und Intensivtherapie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carsten Willam
- Nephrologie und Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jochen Schmitt
- Zentrum für Evidenzbasierte Gesundheitsversorgung, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Zentrum für Evidenzbasierte Gesundheitsversorgung, Dresden, Germany
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Sanal-Hayes NEM, Mclaughlin M, Hayes LD, Mair JL, Ormerod J, Carless D, Hilliard N, Meach R, Ingram J, Sculthorpe NF. A scoping review of 'Pacing' for management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): lessons learned for the long COVID pandemic. J Transl Med 2023; 21:720. [PMID: 37838675 PMCID: PMC10576275 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04587-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Controversy over treatment for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a barrier to appropriate treatment. Energy management or pacing is a prominent coping strategy for people with ME/CFS. Whilst a definitive definition of pacing is not unanimous within the literature or healthcare providers, it typically comprises regulating activity to avoid post exertional malaise (PEM), the worsening of symptoms after an activity. Until now, characteristics of pacing, and the effects on patients' symptoms had not been systematically reviewed. This is problematic as the most common approach to pacing, pacing prescription, and the pooled efficacy of pacing was unknown. Collating evidence may help advise those suffering with similar symptoms, including long COVID, as practitioners would be better informed on methodological approaches to adopt, pacing implementation, and expected outcomes. OBJECTIVES In this scoping review of the literature, we aggregated type of, and outcomes of, pacing in people with ME/CFS. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Original investigations concerning pacing were considered in participants with ME/CFS. SOURCES OF EVIDENCE Six electronic databases (PubMed, Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [CENTRAL]) were searched; and websites MEPedia, Action for ME, and ME Action were also searched for grey literature, to fully capture patient surveys not published in academic journals. METHODS A scoping review was conducted. Review selection and characterisation was performed by two independent reviewers using pretested forms. RESULTS Authors reviewed 177 titles and abstracts, resulting in 17 included studies: three randomised control trials (RCTs); one uncontrolled trial; one interventional case series; one retrospective observational study; two prospective observational studies; four cross-sectional observational studies; and five cross-sectional analytical studies. Studies included variable designs, durations, and outcome measures. In terms of pacing administration, studies used educational sessions and diaries for activity monitoring. Eleven studies reported benefits of pacing, four studies reported no effect, and two studies reported a detrimental effect in comparison to the control group. CONCLUSIONS Highly variable study designs and outcome measures, allied to poor to fair methodological quality resulted in heterogenous findings and highlights the requirement for more research examining pacing. Looking to the long COVID pandemic, our results suggest future studies should be RCTs utilising objectively quantified digitised pacing, over a longer duration of examination (i.e. longitudinal studies), using the core outcome set for patient reported outcome measures. Until these are completed, the literature base is insufficient to inform treatment practises for people with ME/CFS and long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilihan E M Sanal-Hayes
- Sport and Physical Activity Research Institute, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow, UK
- School of Health and Society, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Marie Mclaughlin
- Sport and Physical Activity Research Institute, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow, UK
- School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK
| | - Lawrence D Hayes
- Sport and Physical Activity Research Institute, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jacqueline L Mair
- Future Health Technologies, Singapore-ETH Centre, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore, Singapore.
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Jane Ormerod
- Long COVID Scotland, 12 Kemnay Place, Aberdeen, UK
| | - David Carless
- Sport and Physical Activity Research Institute, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Rachel Meach
- Sport and Physical Activity Research Institute, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | - Joanne Ingram
- School of Education and Social Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | - Nicholas F Sculthorpe
- Sport and Physical Activity Research Institute, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow, UK
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Obici L, Callaghan R, Ablett J, Bibiloni C, Bueser T, Conceição I, Dongiglio F, Farrugia A, Knebel F, Lane T, Larsson LO, Morier A, Nicholas V, Coelho T. Consensus recommendations on holistic care in hereditary ATTR amyloidosis: an international Delphi survey of patient advocates and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e073130. [PMID: 37669844 PMCID: PMC10481833 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis is a rare, progressive and potentially life-limiting multisystem disease, affecting every aspect of a patient's life. OBJECTIVES This online international Delphi survey aimed to evolve clinical-patient-led practical guidance, to inspire and encourage a holistic approach to care that is managed in specialist settings by multidisciplinary teams and supported by allied healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patient advocacy groups (PAGs). DESIGN A 14-member joint patient advocate-HCP primary panel was convened including representation from PAGs and key clinical specialties (neurology, cardiology, internal medicine, physiotherapy, clinical psychology, dietetics and specialist nursing). Guidance evolved on the care provision needed to support seven core goals: early diagnosis and treatment; disease monitoring and organisation of care; maintenance of physical and mental health; family-centred care and caregiver support; patient-doctor dialogue; access to social support and social networking. PARTICIPANTS From June to October 2022, 252 HCPs and 51 PAG representatives from 27 countries were invited to participate in a Delphi survey. Of the 122 respondents who answered at least one survey question, most were HCPs (100, 82%) from specialist centres; the remainder were PAG representatives (22, 18%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Both level of agreement and feasibility in practice of each recommendation was tested by two anonymised online Delphi voting rounds. RESULTS Based on an a priori threshold for consensus of ≥75% agreement, the clinical-patient community endorsed all but one recommendation. However, only 17/49 (35%) recommendations were identified by most HCPs as a core part of routine care; the remainder (32/49 (65%)) were identified as part of core care by <50% of HCPs respondents, or as largely achievable by 30%-45% of HCPs. By comparison, PAGs recorded lower implementation levels. CONCLUSIONS Further consideration is needed on how to evolve multidisciplinary services (supported by allied HCPs and PAGs) to address the complex needs of those affected by this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Obici
- Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Center, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | - Catilena Bibiloni
- Asociación Balear de la Enfermedad de Andrade, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Amyloïdosis Alliance, Marseille, France
| | - Teofila Bueser
- Southeast Genomic Medicine Service Alliance, Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Isabel Conceição
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte-HSM; Lisbon University - FML, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Francesca Dongiglio
- Inherited and Rare Cardiovascular Disease Unit, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Agnès Farrugia
- Amyloïdosis Alliance, Marseille, France
- Association Française Contre l'Amylose, Marseille, France
| | - Fabian Knebel
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II: Cardiology, Sana Klinikum Lichtenberg, Berlin, Germany
- Amyloidosis Center Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thirusha Lane
- Patient Advocacy and Engagement, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Maidenhead, UK
| | | | | | | | - Teresa Coelho
- Familial Amyloidosis Clinic Unit, Hospital Santo António, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- European Reference Network - Euro-NMD, Paris, France
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Xie G, Wang L, Zhang J. How are countries responding differently to COVID-19: a systematic review of guidelines on isolation measures. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1190519. [PMID: 37719732 PMCID: PMC10502310 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1190519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Isolation strategies have been implemented in numerous countries worldwide during the ongoing community transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, various countries and organizations have implemented their isolation measures at varying intensities, even during the same period. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the key information contained in currently available guidelines regarding the isolation of the general population, aiming to better identify the heterogeneity of the current isolation strategies. Methods We conducted searches in four evidence-based medicine (EBM) databases and five guideline websites to identify guidelines, guidance, protocols, and policy documents published by authoritative advisory bodies or healthcare organizations, which provided information on the implementation of isolation for general populations with COVID-19. One author extracted data using a standardized data extraction checklist, and a second author double-checked all extractions for completeness and correctness. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion. The information extracted from the included articles was summarized both narratively and using tables. Results We included 15 articles that provided information on isolation measures recommended by nine different countries and organizations. The included articles consistently recommended isolating individuals with a positive COVID-19 test, regardless of the presence of symptoms. However, there were variations in the duration of isolation, and substantial differences also existed in the criteria for ending the isolation of COVID-19 patients. Conclusion Different countries and organizations have substantial differences in their isolation policies. This reminds us that scientifically sound guidelines on isolation that balance the risk of prematurely ending isolation with the burden of prolonged isolation are a crucial topic of discussion when faced with a pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangmei Xie
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Gansu Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Gansu Provincial Central Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Li Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Gansu Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Gansu Provincial Central Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- School of Nursing, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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Menichetti F. The Potential Role of Hypothalamic Phospholipid Liposomes in the Supportive Therapy of Some Manifestations of Post-COVID-19 Condition: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Brain Fog. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5478. [PMID: 37685544 PMCID: PMC10488182 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12175478] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-COVID-19 condition (commonly known as Long COVID) is a heterogeneous clinical condition in which Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and brain fog stand out among the different clinical symptoms and syndromes. Cerebral metabolic alterations and neuroendocrine disorders seem to constitute an important part of the pathophysiology of Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). Given the substantial lack of specific drugs and effective therapeutic strategies, hypothalamic phospholipid liposomes, which have been on the market for several years as adjuvant therapy for cerebral metabolic alterations resulting from neuroendocrine disorders, might represent a potential option in an overall therapeutic strategy that aims to control PCC-associated symptoms and syndromes. Their pharmacological mechanisms and clinical effects strongly support their potential effectiveness in PCC. Our initial clinical experience seems to corroborate this rationale. Further controlled clinical research is warranted in order to verify this hypothesis.
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Owen R, Ashton RE, Ferraro FV, Skipper L, Bewick T, Leighton P, Phillips BE, Faghy MA. Forming a consensus opinion to inform long COVID support mechanisms and interventions: a modified Delphi approach. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 62:102145. [PMID: 37599906 PMCID: PMC10432807 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Current approaches to support patients living with post-COVID condition, also known as Long COVID, are highly disparate with limited success in managing or resolving a well-documented and long-standing symptom burden. With approximately 2.1 million people living with the condition in the UK alone and millions more worldwide, there is a desperate need to devise support strategies and interventions for patients. Methods A three-round Delphi consensus methodology was distributed internationally using an online survey and was completed by healthcare professionals (including clinicians, physiotherapists, and general practitioners), people with long COVID, and long COVID academic researchers (round 1 n = 273, round 2 n = 186, round 3 n = 138). Across the three rounds, respondents were located predominantly in the United Kingdom (UK), with 17.3-15.2% (round 1, n = 47; round 2 n = 32, round 2 n = 21) of respondents located elsewhere (United States of America (USA), Austria, Malta, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Finland, Norway, Malta, Netherlands, Iceland, Canada, Tunisie, Brazil, Hungary, Greece, France, Austrailia, South Africa, Serbia, and India). Respondents were given ∼5 weeks to complete the survey following enrolment, with round one taking place from 02/15/2022 to 03/28/22, round two; 05/09/2022 to 06/26/2022, and round 3; 07/14/2022 to 08/09/2022. A 5-point Likert scale of agreement was used and the opportunity to include free text responses was provided in the first round. Findings Fifty-five statements reached consensus (defined as >80% agree and strongly agree), across the domains of i) long COVID as a condition, ii) current support and care available for long COVID, iii) clinical assessments for long COVID, and iv) support mechanisms and rehabilitation interventions for long COVID, further sub-categorised by consideration, inclusion, and focus. Consensus reached proposes that long COVID requires specialised, comprehensive support mechanisms and that interventions should form a personalised care plan guided by the needs of the patients. Supportive approaches should focus on individual symptoms, including but not limited to fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and dyspnoea, utilising pacing, fatigue management, and support returning to daily activities. The mental impact of living with long COVID, tolerance to physical activity, emotional distress and well-being, and research of pre-existing conditions with similar symptoms, such as myalgic encephalomyelitis, should also be considered when supporting people with long COVID. Interpretation We provide an outline that achieved consensus with stakeholders that could be used to inform the design and implementation of bespoke long COVID support mechanisms. Funding None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Owen
- Biomedical and Clinical Science Research Theme, School of Human Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, UK
| | - Ruth E.M. Ashton
- Biomedical and Clinical Science Research Theme, School of Human Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, UK
- Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection Network (HL-Pivot), USA
| | - Francesco V. Ferraro
- Biomedical and Clinical Science Research Theme, School of Human Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, UK
| | - Lindsay Skipper
- Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Representative, UK
| | - Tom Bewick
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Uttoxeter Road, Derby DE22 3NE, UK
| | - Paul Leighton
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham and Derby, UK
| | | | - Mark A. Faghy
- Biomedical and Clinical Science Research Theme, School of Human Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, UK
- Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection Network (HL-Pivot), USA
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Barshikar S, Laguerre M, Gordon P, Lopez M. Integrated Care Models for Long Coronavirus Disease. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2023; 34:689-700. [PMID: 37419540 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Professional or governmental agencies and organizations have developed guidelines to define the problem and evaluate and manage patients with Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS CoV-2 (PASC). Multidisciplinary models largely exist in academic centers and larger cities; however, most care for PASC patients is provided by the primary care providers. The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation has been in the forefront in releasing consensus statements as a part of the long COVID collaborative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surendra Barshikar
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5161 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9055, USA.
| | - Martin Laguerre
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5161 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9055, USA
| | - Patricia Gordon
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5161 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9055, USA
| | - Marielisa Lopez
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5161 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9055, USA
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30
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Chen EY, Burton JM, Johnston A, Morrow AK, Yonts AB, Malone LA. Considerations in Children and Adolescents Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2023; 34:643-655. [PMID: 37419537 PMCID: PMC10063573 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2023.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) or "long COVID" are a complex multisystemic disease that affects children's physical, social, and mental health. PASC has a variable presentation, time course, and severity and can affect children even with mild or asymptomatic acute COVID-19 symptoms. Screening for PASC in children with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection is important for early detection and intervention. A multifaceted treatment approach and utilization of multidisciplinary care, if available, are beneficial in managing the complexities of PASC. Lifestyle interventions, physical rehabilitation, and mental health management are important treatment approaches to improve pediatric PASC patients' quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Y Chen
- Johns Hopkins School Medicine, 733 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Justin M Burton
- Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Alicia Johnston
- Division of Infectious Disease, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Amanda K Morrow
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Alexandra B Yonts
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Laura A Malone
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
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31
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Canas LS, Molteni E, Deng J, Sudre CH, Murray B, Kerfoot E, Antonelli M, Rjoob K, Capdevila Pujol J, Polidori L, May A, Österdahl MF, Whiston R, Cheetham NJ, Bowyer V, Spector TD, Hammers A, Duncan EL, Ourselin S, Steves CJ, Modat M. Profiling post-COVID-19 condition across different variants of SARS-CoV-2: a prospective longitudinal study in unvaccinated wild-type, unvaccinated alpha-variant, and vaccinated delta-variant populations. Lancet Digit Health 2023; 5:e421-e434. [PMID: 37202336 PMCID: PMC10187990 DOI: 10.1016/s2589-7500(23)00056-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Self-reported symptom studies rapidly increased understanding of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic and enabled monitoring of long-term effects of COVID-19 outside hospital settings. Post-COVID-19 condition presents as heterogeneous profiles, which need characterisation to enable personalised patient care. We aimed to describe post-COVID-19 condition profiles by viral variant and vaccination status. METHODS In this prospective longitudinal cohort study, we analysed data from UK-based adults (aged 18-100 years) who regularly provided health reports via the Covid Symptom Study smartphone app between March 24, 2020, and Dec 8, 2021. We included participants who reported feeling physically normal for at least 30 days before testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 who subsequently developed long COVID (ie, symptoms lasting longer than 28 days from the date of the initial positive test). We separately defined post-COVID-19 condition as symptoms that persisted for at least 84 days after the initial positive test. We did unsupervised clustering analysis of time-series data to identify distinct symptom profiles for vaccinated and unvaccinated people with post-COVID-19 condition after infection with the wild-type, alpha (B.1.1.7), or delta (B.1.617.2 and AY.x) variants of SARS-CoV-2. Clusters were then characterised on the basis of symptom prevalence, duration, demography, and previous comorbidities. We also used an additional testing sample with additional data from the Covid Symptom Study Biobank (collected between October, 2020, and April, 2021) to investigate the effects of the identified symptom clusters of post-COVID-19 condition on the lives of affected people. FINDINGS We included 9804 people from the COVID Symptom Study with long COVID, 1513 (15%) of whom developed post-COVID-19 condition. Sample sizes were sufficient only for analyses of the unvaccinated wild-type, unvaccinated alpha variant, and vaccinated delta variant groups. We identified distinct profiles of symptoms for post-COVID-19 condition within and across variants: four endotypes were identified for infections due to the wild-type variant (in unvaccinated people), seven for the alpha variant (in unvaccinated people), and five for the delta variant (in vaccinated people). Across all variants, we identified a cardiorespiratory cluster of symptoms, a central neurological cluster, and a multi-organ systemic inflammatory cluster. These three main clusers were confirmed in a testing sample. Gastrointestinal symptoms clustered in no more than two specific phenotypes per viral variant. INTERPRETATION Our unsupervised analysis identified different profiles of post-COVID-19 condition, characterised by differing symptom combinations, durations, and functional outcomes. Our classification could be useful for understanding the distinct mechanisms of post-COVID-19 condition, as well as for identification of subgroups of individuals who might be at risk of prolonged debilitation. FUNDING UK Government Department of Health and Social Care, Chronic Disease Research Foundation, The Wellcome Trust, UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK Research and Innovation London Medical Imaging & Artificial Intelligence Centre for Value-Based Healthcare, UK National Institute for Health Research, UK Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation, UK Alzheimer's Society, and ZOE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liane S Canas
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Erika Molteni
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jie Deng
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Carole H Sudre
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, Department of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK; Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Benjamin Murray
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Eric Kerfoot
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Michela Antonelli
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Khaled Rjoob
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, Department of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Marc F Österdahl
- Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ronan Whiston
- Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nathan J Cheetham
- Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Vicky Bowyer
- Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Tim D Spector
- Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alexander Hammers
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Emma L Duncan
- Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Endocrinology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Sebastien Ourselin
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Claire J Steves
- Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Marc Modat
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
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Paruchuri SSH, Farwa UE, Jabeen S, Pamecha S, Shan Z, Parekh R, Lakkimsetti M, Alamin E, Sharma V, Haider S, Khan J, Razzaq W. Myocarditis and Myocardial Injury in Long COVID Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature. Cureus 2023; 15:e42444. [PMID: 37637608 PMCID: PMC10449234 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The repercussions of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been devastating on a global scale. Long COVID, which affects patients for weeks or even months after their initial infection, is not limited to individuals with severe symptoms and can affect people of all ages. The condition can impact various physiological systems, leading to chronic health conditions and long-term disabilities that present significant challenges for healthcare systems worldwide. This review explores the link between long COVID and cardiovascular complications such as myocardial injury and myocarditis. It also highlights the prevalence of these complications and identifies risk factors for their development in long COVID patients. Myocardial injury occurs due to direct cellular damage and T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity resulting in elevated cardiac biomarkers. Diagnostic techniques like electrocardiogram, troponin level testing, and magnetic resonance imaging can help identify myocarditis, but endomyocardial biopsy is considered the gold-standard diagnostic technique. Guideline-directed medical therapy is recommended for COVID-19 myocarditis patients for better prognosis while being monitored under comprehensive care management approaches. Therefore, it's critical to develop effective screening techniques specifically for vulnerable populations while conducting further research that addresses the effects of long COVID on society's physical health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Sri Hari Paruchuri
- Internal Medicine, Dr. Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Vijayawada, IND
| | - Umm E Farwa
- Emergency Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, PAK
| | - Shaista Jabeen
- Medicine, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Hospital, Islamabad, PAK
| | - Shreyansh Pamecha
- Internal Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, Raipur, IND
| | - Zoofi Shan
- Cardiology, Hero DMC (Dayanand Medical College) Heart Institute, Ludhiana, IND
| | - Ritika Parekh
- Community Health, K. J. (Karamshibhai Jethabhai) Somaiya Medical College and Research Centre, Mumbai, Mumbai, IND
| | | | - Eman Alamin
- Community Health, University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, SDN
| | - Vagisha Sharma
- College of Medicine, Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, IND
| | - Salar Haider
- Physiology, Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad, PAK
| | - Javeria Khan
- Adult Cardiology, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, PAK
| | - Waleed Razzaq
- Internal Medicine, Services Hospital Lahore, Lahore, PAK
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Evans R, Pick A, Lardner R, Masey V, Smith N, Greenhalgh T. Breathing difficulties after covid-19: a guide for primary care. BMJ 2023; 381:e074937. [PMID: 37315957 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-074937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Evans
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre - Respiratory, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Anton Pick
- Long Covid Clinic, Churchill Hospital, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Rachel Lardner
- Long Covid Clinic, Churchill Hospital, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Vicki Masey
- Long Covid Clinic, Churchill Hospital, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Nikki Smith
- Person with long covid, Windsor, Berkshire, UK
| | - Trisha Greenhalgh
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford
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Samper-Pardo M, León-Herrera S, Oliván-Blázquez B, Méndez-López F, Domínguez-García M, Sánchez-Recio R. Effectiveness of a telerehabilitation intervention using ReCOVery APP of long COVID patients: a randomized, 3-month follow-up clinical trial. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7943. [PMID: 37193738 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35058-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The main objective of this study is to analyze the clinical efficacy of telerehabilitation in the recovery of Long COVID patients through ReCOVery APP for 3 months, administered in the Primary Health Care context. The second objective is to identify significant models associated with an improvement in the study variables. An open-label randomized clinical trial was conducted using two parallel groups of a total of 100 Long COVID patients. The first group follows the treatment as usual methods established by their general practitioner (control group) and the second follows the same methods and also uses ReCOVery APP (intervention group). After the intervention, no significant differences were found in favour of the group intervention. Regarding adherence, 25% of the participants made significant use of the APP. Linear regression model establishes that the time of use of ReCOVery APP predicts an improvement in physical function (b = 0.001; p = 0.005) and community social support (b = 0.004; p = 0.021). In addition, an increase in self-efficacy and health literacy also contribute to improving cognitive function (b = 0.346; p = 0.001) and reducing the number of symptoms (b = 0.226; p = 0.002), respectively. In conclusion, the significant use of ReCOVery APP can contribute to the recovery of Long COVID patients. Trial Registration No.: ISRCTN91104012.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Samper-Pardo
- Institute for Health Research Aragon (IISAragon), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - S León-Herrera
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - B Oliván-Blázquez
- Institute for Health Research Aragon (IISAragon), Zaragoza, Spain.
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - F Méndez-López
- Institute for Health Research Aragon (IISAragon), Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - R Sánchez-Recio
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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Bonilla H, Peluso MJ, Rodgers K, Aberg JA, Patterson TF, Tamburro R, Baizer L, Goldman JD, Rouphael N, Deitchman A, Fine J, Fontelo P, Kim AY, Shaw G, Stratford J, Ceger P, Costantine MM, Fisher L, O’Brien L, Maughan C, Quigley JG, Gabbay V, Mohandas S, Williams D, McComsey GA. Therapeutic trials for long COVID-19: A call to action from the interventions taskforce of the RECOVER initiative. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1129459. [PMID: 36969241 PMCID: PMC10034329 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1129459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Although most individuals recover from acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, a significant number continue to suffer from Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), including the unexplained symptoms that are frequently referred to as long COVID, which could last for weeks, months, or even years after the acute phase of illness. The National Institutes of Health is currently funding large multi-center research programs as part of its Researching COVID to Enhance Recover (RECOVER) initiative to understand why some individuals do not recover fully from COVID-19. Several ongoing pathobiology studies have provided clues to potential mechanisms contributing to this condition. These include persistence of SARS-CoV-2 antigen and/or genetic material, immune dysregulation, reactivation of other latent viral infections, microvascular dysfunction, and gut dysbiosis, among others. Although our understanding of the causes of long COVID remains incomplete, these early pathophysiologic studies suggest biological pathways that could be targeted in therapeutic trials that aim to ameliorate symptoms. Repurposed medicines and novel therapeutics deserve formal testing in clinical trial settings prior to adoption. While we endorse clinical trials, especially those that prioritize inclusion of the diverse populations most affected by COVID-19 and long COVID, we discourage off-label experimentation in uncontrolled and/or unsupervised settings. Here, we review ongoing, planned, and potential future therapeutic interventions for long COVID based on the current understanding of the pathobiological processes underlying this condition. We focus on clinical, pharmacological, and feasibility data, with the goal of informing future interventional research studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hector Bonilla
- Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Michael J. Peluso
- Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Kathleen Rodgers
- Center for Innovations in Brain Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Judith A. Aberg
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Chief, Division of Infectious Disease, New York, NY, United States
| | - Thomas F. Patterson
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Robert Tamburro
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Lawrence Baizer
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Division of Lung Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jason D. Goldman
- Department of Medicine, Organ Transplant and Liver Center, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Nadine Rouphael
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Amelia Deitchman
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jeffrey Fine
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, New York University (NYU), New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Paul Fontelo
- Applied Clinical Informatics Branch, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Arthur Y. Kim
- Department of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Division of Infectious Disease, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Gwendolyn Shaw
- Research Triangle Institute (RTI), International, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jeran Stratford
- Research Triangle Institute (RTI), International, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Patricia Ceger
- Research Triangle Institute (RTI), International, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Maged M. Costantine
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Liza Fisher
- Long COVID Families, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lisa O’Brien
- Utah Covid-19 Long Haulers, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | | | - John G. Quigley
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Vilma Gabbay
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sindhu Mohandas
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - David Williams
- Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Grace A. McComsey
- Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Harsha Master
- Lead covid assessment and rehabilitation service, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, UK
| | | | - Stephen Halpin
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, UK
| | | | - Trisha Greenhalgh
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, UK
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Forshaw D, Wall EC, Prescott G, Dehbi HM, Green A, Attree E, Hismeh L, Strain WD, Crooks MG, Watkins C, Robson C, Banerjee R, Lorgelly P, Heightman M, Banerjee A, the STIMULATE-ICP trial team. STIMULATE-ICP: A pragmatic, multi-centre, cluster randomised trial of an integrated care pathway with a nested, Phase III, open label, adaptive platform randomised drug trial in individuals with Long COVID: A structured protocol. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0272472. [PMID: 36791116 PMCID: PMC9931100 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Long COVID (LC), the persistent symptoms ≥12 weeks following acute COVID-19, presents major threats to individual and public health across countries, affecting over 1.5 million people in the UK alone. Evidence-based interventions are urgently required and an integrated care pathway approach in pragmatic trials, which include investigations, treatments and rehabilitation for LC, could provide scalable and generalisable solutions at pace. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This is a pragmatic, multi-centre, cluster-randomised clinical trial of two components of an integrated care pathway (Coverscan™, a multi-organ MRI, and Living with COVID Recovery™, a digitally enabled rehabilitation platform) with a nested, Phase III, open label, platform randomised drug trial in individuals with LC. Cluster randomisation is at level of primary care networks so that integrated care pathway interventions are delivered as "standard of care" in that area. The drug trial randomisation is at individual level and initial arms are rivaroxaban, colchicine, famotidine/loratadine, compared with no drugs, with potential to add in further drug arms. The trial is being carried out in 6-10 LC clinics in the UK and is evaluating the effectiveness of a pathway of care for adults with LC in reducing fatigue and other physical, psychological and functional outcomes at 3 months. The trial also includes an economic evaluation which will be described separately. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The protocol was reviewed by South Central-Berkshire Research Ethics Committee (reference: 21/SC/0416). All participating sites obtained local approvals prior to recruitment. Coverscan™ has UK certification (UKCA 752965). All participants will provide written consent to take part in the trial. The first participant was recruited in July 2022 and interim/final results will be disseminated in 2023, in a plan co-developed with public and patient representatives. The results will be presented at national and international conferences, published in peer reviewed medical journals, and shared via media (mainstream and social) and patient support organisations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN10665760.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Forshaw
- Lancashire Clinical Trials Unit, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom
| | - Emma C. Wall
- Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) University College London Hospitals (UCLH) Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gordon Prescott
- Lancashire Clinical Trials Unit, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom
| | - Hakim-Moulay Dehbi
- Comprehensive Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Green
- Department of Physiotherapy, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - William D. Strain
- University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom
- Academic Department of Healthcare for Older People, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Michael G. Crooks
- Academic Respiratory Medicine, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull, United Kingdom
- Hull York Medical School, Institute of Clinical and Applied Health Research, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Watkins
- Lancashire Clinical Trials Unit, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Paula Lorgelly
- School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Melissa Heightman
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
- NHS England, London, United Kingdom
| | - Amitava Banerjee
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Cardiology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Cardiology, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
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38
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Ora J, Calzetta L, Frugoni C, Puxeddu E, Rogliani P. Expert guidance on the management and challenges of long-COVID syndrome: a systematic review. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2023; 24:315-330. [PMID: 36542805 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2022.2161365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Long-COVID is a condition characterized by the permanence of symptoms beyond 4 weeks after an initial infection. It affects 1 out of 5 people and is loosely related to the severity of acute infection and pathological mechanisms, which are yet to be understood. AREAS COVERED This article looks at currently available and under-studied therapies for long-COVID syndrome. It particularly gives focus to ongoing trials and reviews the underlying mechanisms. A comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed and clincaltrial.gov of clinical trials concerning the management of long-COVID syndrome. EXPERT OPINION 'Long-COVID' syndrome is a new emergency characterized by several symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, cognitive and attention disorders, sleep disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, muscle pain, and concentration problems. Despite the many guidelines available to date, there are no established treatments of long-COVID. Pharmacological research is studying known drugs that act on the reduction or modulation of systemic inflammation, or innovative drugs used in similar pathologies. Rehabilitation now seems to be the safest treatment to offer, whereas we will have to wait for the pharmacological research trials in progress as well as plan new trials based on a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josuel Ora
- Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.,Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigino Calzetta
- Respiratory Disease and Lung Function Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Chiara Frugoni
- Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Ermanno Puxeddu
- Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.,Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Rogliani
- Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.,Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133, Rome, Italy
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Lai CC, Hsu CK, Yen MY, Lee PI, Ko WC, Hsueh PR. Long COVID: An inevitable sequela of SARS-CoV-2 infection. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INFECTION = WEI MIAN YU GAN RAN ZA ZHI 2023; 56:1-9. [PMID: 36283919 PMCID: PMC9576029 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2022.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
At present, there are more than 560 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide. Although more than 98% of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can survive acute COVID, a significant portion of survivors can develop residual health problems, which is termed as long COVID. Although severe COVID-19 is generally associated with a high risk of long COVID, patients with asymptomatic or mild disease can also show long COVID. The definition of long COVID is inconsistent and its clinical manifestations are protean. In addition to general symptoms, such as fatigue, long COVID can affect many organ systems, including the respiratory, neurological, psychosocial, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and metabolic systems. Moreover, patients with long COVID may experience exercise intolerance and impaired daily function and quality of life. Long COVID may be caused by SARS-CoV-2 direct injury or its associated immune/inflammatory response. Assessment of patients with long COVID requires comprehensive evaluation, including history taking, physical examination, laboratory tests, radiography, and functional tests. However, there is no known effective treatment for long COVID. Based on the limited evidence, vaccines may help to prevent the development of long COVID. As long COVID is a new clinical entity that is constantly evolving, there are still many unknowns, and further investigation is warranted to enhance our understanding of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Cheng Lai
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Kuei Hsu
- Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Muh-Yong Yen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Ing Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chien Ko
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan,Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Po-Ren Hsueh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan,Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan,School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan,Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan,Corresponding author. Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, No. 2, Yude Road, North District, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
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KINTRILIS N, KONTAXAKIS A, PAPALAMPIDOU A, MANTHOS P, SIMEONIDOU Z, Stavrianou A, Moumtzi-Nakka E, Galinos I, RAPIDI CA. QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 HOSPITALIZATION AND REHABILITATION NEEDS. JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION MEDICINE. CLINICAL COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 6:5327. [PMID: 36760716 PMCID: PMC9838561 DOI: 10.2340/jrmcc.v6.5327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Introduction During the current pandemic, there has been a paucity of Greek data in terms of recording the general long-term functional status of patients after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations, as well as very little information regarding rehabilitation services nationwide and their utilization. Objective-design This is a prospective cohort study, including 92 adults discharged from the Infectious Disease Unit of a third-level hospital in Greece after hospitalization with COVID-19. Demographics and disease severity data was collected upon admission and symptoms at discharge, 4 months and 1 year. Following rating of 12 common symptoms on a Likert scale, quality-of-life data and accessibility to rehabilitation services were compared among the 3 time points. Results At discharge, the most prevalent complaints were fatigue, exertional dyspnoea and difficulty walking. At 4 months, these 3 remained among the most prevalent symptoms, while pain and memory/loss concentration remained at high numbers as well. Finally, at the 1-year mark, the percentages of patients reporting fatigue, exertional dyspnoea and pain were the highest. At the 4-month follow-up, only 4.3% of the study participants had visited a rehabilitation facility of any kind, whereas at the 1-year mark the percentage rose to 10.9%. Conclusion A clinically relevant number of participants experienced at least one post-COVID-19 hospitalization symptom. Quality of life was markedly affected by the longer-term effects of the disease. The percentage of people finally attending any kind of rehabilitation service was poor. With thousands more being infected and needing hospitalization nationwide daily, the need for the inclusion of relevant rehabilitation programmes in the Greek healthcare system appears imminent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos KINTRILIS
- Infectious Disease Unit, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Athens
| | - Antonis KONTAXAKIS
- Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, 414 Military Hospital of Special Diseases, Penteli
| | - Athanasia PAPALAMPIDOU
- Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, 414 Military Hospital of Special Diseases, Penteli
| | - Prokopios MANTHOS
- Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, General Hospital of Athens, “Gennimatas”, Athens
| | - Zaira SIMEONIDOU
- Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, 414 Military Hospital of Special Diseases, Penteli
| | - Aggeliki Stavrianou
- Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Center, General Hospital of Florina “Elena Dimitriou”, Florina, Greece
| | - Eleni Moumtzi-Nakka
- Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, 414 Military Hospital of Special Diseases, Penteli
| | - Iosif Galinos
- Infectious Disease Unit, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Athens
| | - Christina A. RAPIDI
- Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, General Hospital of Athens, “Gennimatas”, Athens
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Thomas-Purcell K, Davenport R, Ayala V, Purcell D, Ownby RL. Chronic Disease Self-Management of Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 Among Older Adults: A Mixed-Methods Analysis. Clin Interv Aging 2023; 18:607-617. [PMID: 37082741 PMCID: PMC10112475 DOI: 10.2147/cia.s393732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Approximately 20-30% of individuals who contract acute coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection develop longer term complications of their initial infection, referred to as Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). PASC is characterized by chronic, varying symptomatology. Methods Using a mixed methods study design, we aimed to gain insight into individuals' experience with PASC, including cognitive issues, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. We explored whether our previously developed application (app), aimed at improving self-management skills among individuals with chronic diseases, is relevant for individuals with PASC and gained information to adapt the app for individuals with PASC. The study included 19 individuals, aged 40 years and older, recruited from our research participant database, Nova Southeastern University clinics, and community locations. We included this age range because older adults are more likely to have comorbid conditions, allowing us to better understand the impact of COVID-19 infection in these individuals. Participants completed seven standardized self-report questionnaires online, and an individual semi-structured interview via videoconferencing. Quantitative data were assessed using descriptive statistics and calculating individuals' scores in relation to norms. Qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Triangulation of the data was accomplished by calculating correlations between participants' responses on self-report scales and themes found in semi-structured interviews. Results Themes included disruption of everyday life, diverse physical symptoms, and cognitive problems including brain fog, fatigue, coping, and emotional upset. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that participants experienced high levels of fatigue, negative mood, cognitive problems, and overall reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Correlation analyses revealed that individual interview responses were related to participants' self-report of symptoms on standard questionnaires. Discussion Findings indicate that self-report questionnaires may reflect the experience of individuals with PASC and its impact. Additionally, further efforts to expand our prior mobile app are warranted among individuals with PASC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosemary Davenport
- Department of Psychiatry, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Victoria Ayala
- Department of Psychiatry, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Donrie Purcell
- Satcher Health Leadership Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Raymond L Ownby
- Department of Psychiatry, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Correspondence: Raymond L Ownby, Nova Southeastern University, Center for Collaborative Research Suite 430, 3301 College Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33314, USA, Tel +1-954-608-4846, Email
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Kamchatnov PR, Cheremin RA, Skipetrova LA, Chugunov AV. Neurological Signs of Postcovid Syndrome. NEUROSCIENCE AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 52:968-975. [PMID: 36589208 PMCID: PMC9789305 DOI: 10.1007/s11055-022-01324-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The challenge of postcovid syndrome (PCS) is of great interest due to its wide distribution and variety of clinical signs. The main neurological signs of PCS are discussed. Data on the presumptive mechanisms forming PCS are presented. The potential for using the drug Mexidol to treat patients with PCS is addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. R. Kamchatnov
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, Russia
| | - R. A. Cheremin
- Speech Pathology and Neurorehabilitation Center, Moscow Health Department, Moscow, Russia
| | - L. A. Skipetrova
- Speech Pathology and Neurorehabilitation Center, Moscow Health Department, Moscow, Russia
| | - A. V. Chugunov
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, Russia
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Hunt J, Blease C, Geraghty KJ. Long Covid at the crossroads: Comparisons and lessons from the treatment of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). J Health Psychol 2022; 27:3106-3120. [PMID: 35341334 DOI: 10.1177/13591053221084494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Whilst parallels have been drawn between Long Covid and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), there is a well-documented history of negative stereotyping and marginalisation of patients with ME/CFS. A socio-politically oriented comparison of scientific, clinical and societal responses to Long Covid and ME/CFS is thus important to prevent similar harms arising among Long Covid patients. We identify four reasons for injustices in the treatment of ME/CFS patients, and discuss the risk of Long Covid following a similar trajectory. We conclude with policy and practice recommendations to help prevent such injustices arising again, including consideration of critical reflexivity in medical education.
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Pearson M, Singh P, Bartel H, Crawford P, Allsopp G. Creative Long Covid: A qualitative exploration of the experience of Long Covid through the medium of creative narratives. Health Expect 2022; 25:2950-2959. [PMID: 36148648 PMCID: PMC9700147 DOI: 10.1111/hex.13602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Healthcare is witnessing a new disease with the emergence of Long Covid; a condition which can result in myriad symptoms, varying in frequency and severity. As new data are emerging to help inform treatment guidelines, the perspectives of those living with Long Covid are essential in informing healthcare practice. The research aimed to collect the narratives of people living with Long Covid to better understand the lived experience of this condition. In attempting to narrate complex or traumatic experiences the arts and humanities can offer alternative ways of expressing embodied narratives, representing rich sources of meaning. Therefore, the research specifically sought to elicit creative expressions from participants with lived experience of Long Covid. METHODS Data were collected via an online repository where participants could submit their pieces of creative writing. Data were collected between August 2021 and January 2022 and a total of 28 submissions were received from participants. These were mostly written creative narratives. However, a small number were submitted as audio or video files of spoken word poetry or songs. Data collection was stopped once data saturation was achieved. RESULTS The submissions were subjected to thematic analysis and five themes were generated. These five themes are Identity, social relationships, symptoms, interaction with healthcare systems and time. The results provide an insight into the experience of Long Covid as detailed by the participants' creative narratives. CONCLUSION The results from this study provide a unique insight into the lived experience of Long Covid. In relation to clinical practice, the results suggest that adjustment reaction and loss of sense of self could be added as common symptoms. PATIENT AND PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION Before undertaking the research, Long Covid community groups were contacted to discuss the potential value of this study and it was widely supported. One of the leading Long Covid support groups was also involved in disseminating information regarding the project. As part of ongoing work within this project, members of the team are actively disseminating the results within Long Covid communities and seeking to develop arts-based workshops specifically for people with Long Covid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Pearson
- School of Health SciencesUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - Prerna Singh
- Policy, Research and Campaigns DepartmentRoyal College of General PractitionersLondonUK
| | - Heike Bartel
- School of Cultures, Languages and Area StudiesUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - Paul Crawford
- School of Health SciencesUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - Gail Allsopp
- Department of Clinical PolicyRoyal College of General PractitionersLondonUK
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De Luca R, Bonanno M, Calabrò RS. Psychological and Cognitive Effects of Long COVID: A Narrative Review Focusing on the Assessment and Rehabilitative Approach. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11216554. [PMID: 36362782 PMCID: PMC9653636 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11216554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Long COVID is a clinical syndrome characterized by profound fatigue, neurocognitive difficulties, muscle pain, weakness, and depression, lasting beyond the 3–12 weeks following infection with SARS-CoV-2. Among the symptoms, neurocognitive and psychiatric sequelae, including attention and memory alterations, as well as anxiety and depression symptoms, have become major targets of current healthcare providers given the significant public health impact. In this context, assessment tools play a crucial role in the early screening of cognitive alterations due to Long COVID. Among others, the general cognitive assessment tools, such as the Montreal Cognitive assessment, and more specific ones, including the State Trait Inventory of Cognitive Fatigue and the Digit Span, may be of help in investigating the main neurocognitive alterations. Moreover, appropriate neurorehabilitative programs using specific methods and techniques (conventional and/or advanced) through a multidisciplinary team are required to treat COVID-19-related cognitive and behavioral abnormalities. In this narrative review, we sought to describe the main neurocognitive and psychiatric symptoms as well as to provide some clinical advice for the assessment and treatment of Long COVID.
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46
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Décary S, De Groote W, Arienti C, Kiekens C, Boldrini P, Lazzarini SG, Dugas M, Stefan T, Langlois L, Daigle F, Naye F, LeBlanc A, Negrini S. Scoping review of rehabilitation care models for post COVID-19 condition. Bull World Health Organ 2022; 100:676-688. [PMID: 36324552 PMCID: PMC9589389 DOI: 10.2471/blt.22.288105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To systematically map the current evidence about the characteristics of health systems, providers and patients to design rehabilitation care for post coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) condition. Methods We conducted a scoping review by searching the databases: MEDLINE®, Embase®, Web of Science, Cochrane COVID-19 Registry and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, from inception to 22 April 2022. The search strategy included terms related to (i) post COVID-19 condition and other currently known terminologies; (ii) care models and pathways; and (iii) rehabilitation. We applied no language or study design restrictions. Two pairs of researchers independently screened title, abstracts and full-text articles and extracted data. We charted the evidence according to five topics: (i) care model components and functions; (ii) safe delivery of rehabilitation; (iii) referral principles; (iv) service delivery settings; and (v) health-care professionals. Findings We screened 13 753 titles and abstracts, read 154 full-text articles, and included 37 articles. The current evidence is conceptual and expert based. Care model components included multidisciplinary teams, continuity or coordination of care, people-centred care and shared decision-making between clinicians and patients. Care model functions included standardized symptoms assessment, telehealth and virtual care and follow-up system. Rehabilitation services were integrated at all levels of a health system from primary care to tertiary hospital-based care. Health-care workers delivering services within a multidisciplinary team included mostly physiotherapists, occupational therapists and psychologists. Conclusion Key policy messages include implementing a multilevel and multiprofessional model; leveraging country health systems' strengths and learning from other conditions; financing rehabilitation research providing standardized outcomes; and guidance to increase patient safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Décary
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Research Centre of the CHUS, University of Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Wouter De Groote
- Department for Noncommunicable Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Paolo Boldrini
- Italian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Michèle Dugas
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Québec, Canada
| | - Théo Stefan
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Québec, Canada
| | - Léa Langlois
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Québec, Canada
| | - Frédérique Daigle
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Research Centre of the CHUS, University of Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Florian Naye
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Research Centre of the CHUS, University of Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Annie LeBlanc
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Québec, Canada
| | - Stefano Negrini
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University “La Statale”, Milan, Italy
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Pinto MD, Chakraborty R, Lambert N. The Elephant in the Waiting Room: An Urgent Call for Papers to Address the Public Health Crisis of Long COVID. Clin Nurs Res 2022; 31:1387-1389. [PMID: 36200625 PMCID: PMC9548489 DOI: 10.1177/10547738221132603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa D. Pinto
- University of California, Irvine, CA,
USA,Melissa D. Pinto, Sue and Bill Gross School
of Nursing, University of California, Irvine, 100D Berk Hall Irvine, CA 92697,
USA.
| | | | - Natalie Lambert
- Indiana University, School of Medicine,
Indianapolis, IN, USA
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48
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The Challenge of Long COVID-19 Management: From Disease Molecular Hallmarks to the Proposal of Exercise as Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012311. [PMID: 36293160 PMCID: PMC9603679 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Long coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is the designation given to a novel syndrome that develops within a few months after infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and that is presenting with increasing incidence because of the numerous cases of infection. Long COVID-19 is characterized by a sequela of clinical symptoms that concern different organs and tissues, from nervous, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and renal systems to skeletal muscle and cardiovascular apparatus. The main common molecular cause for all long COVID-19 facets appears to be related to immune dysregulations, the persistence of inflammatory status, epigenetic modifications, and alterations of neurotrophin release. The prevention and management of long COVID-19 are still inappropriate because many aspects need further clarification. Exercise is known to exert a deep action on molecular dysfunctions elicited by long COVID-19 depending on training intensity, duration, and continuity. Evidence suggests that it could improve the quality of life of long COVID-19 patients. This review explores the main clinical features and the known molecular mechanisms underlying long COVID-19 in the perspective of considering exercise as a co-medication in long COVID-19 management.
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Smyth N, Alwan NA, Band R, Chaudhry A, Chew-Graham CA, Gopal D, Jackson M, Kingstone T, Wright A, Ridge D. Exploring the lived experience of Long Covid in black and minority ethnic groups in the UK: Protocol for qualitative interviews and art-based methods. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275166. [PMID: 36191007 PMCID: PMC9529129 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Some people experience prolonged symptoms following an acute COVID-19 infection including fatigue, chest pain and breathlessness, headache and cognitive impairment. When symptoms persist for over 12 weeks following the initial infection, and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis, the term post-COVID-19 syndrome is used, or the patient-defined term of Long Covid. Understanding the lived experiences of Long Covid is crucial to supporting its management. However, research on patient experiences of Long Covid is currently not ethnically diverse enough. The study aim is to explore the lived experience of Long Covid, using qualitative interviews and art-based methods, among people from ethnically diverse backgrounds (in the UK), to better understand wider systems of support and healthcare support needs. Co-created artwork will be used to build on the interview findings. A purposive sampling strategy will be used to gain diverse experiences of Long Covid, sampling by demographics, geographic locations and experiences of Long Covid. Individuals (aged >18 years) from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds, who self-report Long Covid symptoms, will be invited to take part in a semi-structured interview. Interviews will be analysed thematically. A sub-sample of participants will be invited to co-create visual artwork to further explore shared narratives of Long Covid, enhance storytelling and increase understanding about the condition. A patient advisory group, representing diversity in ethnicity and experiences of Long Covid, will inform all research stages. Stakeholder workshops with healthcare professionals and persons, systems or networks important to people's management of Long Covid, will advise on the integration of findings to inform management of Long Covid. The study will use patient narratives from people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, to raise awareness of Long Covid and help inform management of Long Covid and how wider social systems and networks may inform better healthcare service access and experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Smyth
- School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nisreen A. Alwan
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex, Southampton, United Kingdom
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Band
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex, Southampton, United Kingdom
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Ashish Chaudhry
- Patient Contributor, General Practitioner & Clinical Lecturer, London, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Carolyn A. Chew-Graham
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Keele University, Newcastle, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Dipesh Gopal
- Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tom Kingstone
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Keele University, Newcastle, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
- Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Research & Innovation Department, Stafford, United Kingdom
| | - Alexa Wright
- School of Humanities, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Damien Ridge
- School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
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Tíscar-González V, Sánchez-Gómez S, Lafuente Martínez A, Peña Serrano A, Twose López M, Díaz Alonso S, Bartolomé-Rupérez M, Portuondo-Jiménez J, Zorrilla-Martínez I. [Experiences and impact on the quality of life of people with long COVID]. GACETA SANITARIA 2022; 37:102247. [PMID: 36194958 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2022.102247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the experiences of people with persistent COVID in the Basque Country more than a year after the start of the pandemic, in order to understand the health and social impact it has, as well as to detect possible areas for improvement in the care that these people receive in order to develop health programms to support their recovery. METHOD Qualitative phenomenological study. In-depth interviews will be carried out as a data collection technique until saturation of the discourse. Patients of legal age who present persistent COVID symptomatology with an evolution time of more than 12 weeks were included. Contact with the patients was made through the Basque Long COVID Collective. The interviews were carried out and recorded through the ZOOM application. After the literal transcription of the interviews, the thematic analysis will be carried out, identifying the first units of meaning and assigning codes that will later be grouped into the different categories. RESULTS 20 patients participated. A total of three main categories emerged from the analysis of the discourses: 1) affecting/impacting patients' quality of life; 2) identifying improvements in healthcare; and 3) comforting aspects. CONCLUSIONS This study shows the significant impact on the quality of life suffered by these people. It is necessary to design health policies that favour a personalised, comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Tíscar-González
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Biocruces Bizkaia, Barakaldo, Bizkaia, España; Osakidetza Servicio Vasco de Salud, Organización Sanitaria Integrada Bilbao Basurto, Bilbao, España; Escuela Universitaria de Enfermería de Vitoria, Universidad del País Vasco, Vitoria-Gasteiz, España; Academia de Ciencias de enfermería de Bizkaia, Bizkaia, España.
| | - Sheila Sánchez-Gómez
- Osakidetza Servicio Vasco de Salud, Organización Sanitaria Integrada Araba, Vitoria-Gasteiz, España; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Bioaraba, Vitoria-Gasteiz, España
| | - Ana Lafuente Martínez
- Osakidetza Servicio Vasco de Salud, Organización Sanitaria Integrada Araba, Vitoria-Gasteiz, España
| | - Ana Peña Serrano
- Osakidetza Servicio Vasco de Salud, Organización Sanitaria Integrada Araba, Vitoria-Gasteiz, España
| | - Marta Twose López
- Osakidetza Servicio Vasco de Salud, Organización Sanitaria Integrada Araba, Vitoria-Gasteiz, España
| | - Sofía Díaz Alonso
- Osakidetza Servicio Vasco de Salud, Organización Sanitaria Integrada Araba, Vitoria-Gasteiz, España
| | - Marta Bartolomé-Rupérez
- Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y de la Comunicación, Universidad del País Vasco, Leioa, España
| | - Janire Portuondo-Jiménez
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Biocruces Bizkaia, Barakaldo, Bizkaia, España; Departamento de Salud, Gobierno Vasco, Dirección de Planificación, Ordenación y Evaluación Sanitaria del Gobierno Vasco, Vitoria-Gasteiz, España
| | - Iñaki Zorrilla-Martínez
- Osakidetza Servicio Vasco de Salud, Organización Sanitaria Integrada Araba, Vitoria-Gasteiz, España; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Bioaraba, Vitoria-Gasteiz, España; CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), España
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