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#LongCOVID19
Spectrum of symptoms that can occur/persist wks to months after acute severe or mild #COVID19.
Primary symptoms: fatigue, dyspnea on exertion, headache, arthralgia, palpitations,
concentration & depression in previously healthy individuals.
Summary of key studies
Spectrum of symptoms that can occur/persist wks to months after acute severe or mild #COVID19.
Primary symptoms: fatigue, dyspnea on exertion, headache, arthralgia, palpitations,
concentration & depression in previously healthy individuals.Summary of key studies
Limitations of #LongCOVID19 studies
No accepted definition
SARSCoV2 diagnosis inconsistent
Different severity of acute illness
Different populations
Apps, online surveys: response bias
Baseline not available
no comparison group
Differentiating from other causes
No accepted definitionSARSCoV2 diagnosis inconsistentDifferent severity of acute illness Different populations Apps, online surveys: response bias Baseline not availableno comparison groupDifferentiating from other causes
Theories on pathogenesis of #LongCovid
Chronic inflammation
Immune dysregulation
Sequelae of endothelitis and coagulopathy
Mitochondrial dysfunction
Autonomic dysfunction
No single unifying theory and pathogenesis remains largely unknown
Chronic inflammationImmune dysregulationSequelae of endothelitis and coagulopathyMitochondrial dysfunction Autonomic dysfunctionNo single unifying theory and pathogenesis remains largely unknown
Clinical Manisfestions #LongCovid
Fatigue and muscle weakness
Shortness of breath, muscle & joint pain
Palpitations
Loss or alteration of taste& sense of smell
Hair loss
Cognitive problems w deficits in concentration & memory
Women are more frequently affected.
Fatigue and muscle weaknessShortness of breath, muscle & joint painPalpitationsLoss or alteration of taste& sense of smellHair lossCognitive problems w deficits in concentration & memory Women are more frequently affected.
Objective Findings #LongCovid
Impaired lung function on PFTs especially DLCO in multiple studies
Abnormal lung CT findings -many cohorts
Abnormal cardiac MRI suggestive of myocardial injury -many cohorts.
Abnormal fitness testing with VO2 max in 1 cohort
Impaired lung function on PFTs especially DLCO in multiple studiesAbnormal lung CT findings -many cohortsAbnormal cardiac MRI suggestive of myocardial injury -many cohorts.Abnormal fitness testing with VO2 max in 1 cohort
Monitoring and Treatment #LongCovid
exclude serious ongoing complications or comorbidities, pragmatic symptom mgt
emphasize holistic support
avoiding over-investigation
Many pts recover spontaneously albeit slowly w rest, symptomatic treatment & gradual
in activity”
exclude serious ongoing complications or comorbidities, pragmatic symptom mgt emphasize holistic support avoiding over-investigationMany pts recover spontaneously albeit slowly w rest, symptomatic treatment & gradual
in activity”
Many #COVID19 survivors physically & psychologically impaired for months after diagnosis.Women appear to be more frequently affected. Take “Long haulers” seriously. Given numbers of #SARSCoV2 infxns worldwide, all HCP will be dealing w this syndrome in the future.
