European Respiratory Society statement on long COVID follow-up.

Abstract

Patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection frequently experience symptom burden post-acute infection or post-hospitalisation. We aimed to identify optimal strategies for follow-up care that may positively impact the patient's quality of life (QoL). A European Respiratory Society (ERS) Task Force convened and prioritised eight clinical questions. A targeted search of the literature defined the timeline of "long COVID" as 1-6 months post-infection and identified clinical evidence in the follow-up of patients. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria report an association of characteristics of acute infection with persistent symptoms, thromboembolic events in the follow-up period, and evaluations of pulmonary physiology and imaging. Importantly, this statement reviews QoL consequences, symptom burden, disability and home care follow-up. Overall, the evidence for follow-up care for patients with long COVID is limited.

• Authors: Katerina M Antoniou, Eirini Vasarmidi, Anne-Marie Russell, Claire Andrejak, Bruno Crestani, Marion Delcroix, Anh Tuan Dinh-Xuan, Venerino Poletti, Nicola Sverzellati, Michele Vitacca, Martin Witzenrath, Thomy Tonia, Antonio Spanevello
• Journal: The European respiratory journal (Eur Respir J) Vol. 60 Issue 2 (08 2022) ISSN: 1399-3003 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35144991 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright ©The authors 2022.

Topics

• COVID-19 (complications)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Quality of Life
• SARS-CoV-2
• Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome