Tag: long covid medical care

How do German General Practitioners Manage Long-/Post-COVID? A Qualitative Study in Primary Care

Abstract:

Background: Many patients with ongoing complaints after a SARS-CoV-2 infection are treated in primary care. Existing medical guidelines on how to diagnose and treat Long-/Post-COVID are far from being comprehensive. This study aims to describe how German general practitioners (GPs) deal with this situation, what problems they experience when managing such patients, and how they solve problems associated with the diagnosis and treatment of Long-/Post-COVID.
Methods and Findings: We conducted a qualitative study and interviewed 11 GPs. The most commonly described symptoms were ongoing fatigue, dyspnea, chest tightness and a decrease in physical capacity. The most common way to identify Long-/Post-COVID was by exclusion. Patients suffering from Long-/Post-COVID were generally treated by their GPs and rarely referred. A very common non-pharmacological intervention was to take a wait-and-see approach and grant sick leave. Other non-pharmacological interventions included lifestyle advices, physical exercise, acupuncture and exercises with intense aromas. Pharmacological treatments focused on symptoms, like respiratory symptoms or headaches. Our study’s main limitations are the small sample size and therefore limited generalizability of results.
Conclusions: Further research is required to develop and test pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions for patients with Long-/Post-COVID. In addition, strategies to prevent the occurrence of Long-/Post-COVID after an acute infection with SARS-CoV-2 have to be developed. The routine collection of data on the diagnosis and management of Long-/Post-COVID may help in the formulation of best practices. It is up to policymakers to facilitate the necessary implementation of effective interventions in order to limit the huge societal consequences of large groups of patients suffering from Long-/Post-COVID.
Source: Bachmeier BE, Hölzle S, Gasser M, van den Akker M. How do German General Practitioners Manage Long-/Post-COVID? A Qualitative Study in Primary Care. Viruses. 2023; 15(4):1016. https://doi.org/10.3390/v15041016 https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/4/1016 (Full text)

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

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.

Source: 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; 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 Feb 15;18(2):e0272472. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272472. PMID: 36791116; PMCID: PMC9931100. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9931100/ (Full text)

Preliminary Guidelines for the Clinical Evaluation and Management of Long COVID

Abstract:

Long-lasting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms beyond 12 weeks, the so-called ‘long COVID’ have been increasingly reported worldwide. Long COVID can be manifested in various forms, and there is an increasing demand for proper assessment and management. However, it is challenging when trying to determine the best-practice standards of care based on the current evidence because there is no internationally agreed clinical definition or clear treatment pathway. Therefore, the present guidelines have been drafted to provide advice on diagnosis and management based on the latest updated available evidence and the consensus of expert opinion. So far, no standard test and drug treatment can be strongly recommended for patients with long COVID because of a lack of evidence. The present guidelines provide advice based on 12 key questions, including appropriate interventions for long COVID that can be used in clinical practice. Continuous careful observation and studies related to long COVID are needed for the long-term impact of COVID-19 and proper management for long COVID to be determined.

Source: Kim Y, Kim SE, Kim T, Yun KW, Lee SH, Lee E, Seo JW, Jung YH, Chong YP. Preliminary Guidelines for the Clinical Evaluation and Management of Long COVID. Infect Chemother. 2022 Sep;54(3):566-597. doi: 10.3947/ic.2022.0141. PMID: 36196612; PMCID: PMC9533168. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9533168/ (Full text)

Management and treatment of long COVID symptoms in general practices: An online-based survey

Abstract:

Independent from initial severity, many patients develop persistent symptoms after infection with SARS-CoV-2, described as long COVID syndrome. Most of these patients are treated by general practitioners (GPs). As evidence-based treatment recommendations are still sparse, GPs must make their therapy decisions under uncertainty.

We investigated (1) the most frequently observed long COVID symptoms in general practices and (2) GPs’ applied treatment and rehabilitation plans for these symptoms. In total, 143 German GPs participated in an online-based survey between 05/2021 and 07/2021. We found that each GP practice was treating on average 12 patients with long COVID symptoms. Most frequently seen symptoms were fatigue and reduced performance. Current therapy options were rated as poor and loss of smell and taste, fatigue, or lack of concentration were perceived to be especially difficult to treat. The use of drug and non-drug therapies and specialist referrals focused primarily on physiological and less on psychosomatic/psychological rehabilitation and followed guidelines of similar conditions.

Our results provide first insights into how GPs approach a newly emerging condition in the absence of guidelines, evidence-based recommendations, or approved therapies, and might inform about GP preparedness in future pandemics. Our results also emphasize a gap between the current knowledge of the long COVID manifestation and knowledge about effective rehabilitation.

Source: Schrimpf A, Braesigk A, Lippmann S, Bleckwenn M. Management and treatment of long COVID symptoms in general practices: An online-based survey. Front Public Health. 2022 Sep 13;10:937100. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.937100. PMID: 36176520; PMCID: PMC9513068. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9513068/ (Full text)