1
|
Conti V, Corbi G, Sabbatino F, De Pascale D, Sellitto C, Stefanelli B, Bertini N, De Simone M, Liguori L, Di Paola I, De Bernardo M, Tesse A, Rosa N, Pagliano P, Filippelli A. Long COVID: Clinical Framing, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Approaches. J Pers Med 2023; 13:334. [PMID: 36836568 PMCID: PMC9959656 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13020334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
More than two years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare providers are facing an emergency within an emergency, the so-called long COVID or post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS). Patients diagnosed with PCS develop an extended range of persistent symptoms and/or complications from COVID-19. The risk factors and clinical manifestations are many and various. Advanced age, sex/gender, and pre-existing conditions certainly influence the pathogenesis and course of this syndrome. However, the absence of precise diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers may further complicate the clinical management of patients. This review aimed to summarize recent evidence on the factors influencing PCS, possible biomarkers, and therapeutic approaches. Older patients recovered approximately one month earlier than younger patients, with higher rates of symptoms. Fatigue during the acute phase of COVID-19 appears to be an important risk factor for symptom persistence. Female sex, older age, and active smoking are associated with a higher risk of developing PCS. The incidence of cognitive decline and the risk of death are higher in PCS patients than in controls. Complementary and alternative medicine appears to be associated with improvement in symptoms, particularly fatigue. The heterogeneous nature of post-COVID symptoms and the complexity of patients with PCS, who are often polytreated due to concomitant clinical conditions, suggest a holistic and integrated approach to provide useful guidance for the treatment and overall management of long COVID.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Conti
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics Unit, University Hospital "San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi, D'Aragona", 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Graziamaria Corbi
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Sabbatino
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Domenico De Pascale
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics Unit, University Hospital "San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi, D'Aragona", 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Carmine Sellitto
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics Unit, University Hospital "San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi, D'Aragona", 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Berenice Stefanelli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics Unit, University Hospital "San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi, D'Aragona", 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Nicola Bertini
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics Unit, University Hospital "San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi, D'Aragona", 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Matteo De Simone
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Luigi Liguori
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Ilenia Di Paola
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Maddalena De Bernardo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Angela Tesse
- CNRS, INSERM, L'institut du Thorax, Université de Nantes, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Nicola Rosa
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Pasquale Pagliano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Amelia Filippelli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics Unit, University Hospital "San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi, D'Aragona", 84131 Salerno, Italy
| |
Collapse
|