No one's talking about... Long COVID
With over 150 million cases reported worldwide, and over 3.2 million reported deaths, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world as we know it forever with people suffering loss of loved ones, loss of jobs and a detrition to their mental health.
For many, mild symptoms disappear after a few days, and after the 10 days isolation period life returns to normal, but for some, the effects of Coronavirus are lasting weeks, if not months which is having a dramatic effect on all aspects of their life. A systematic review has highlighted 55 different long-term effects but common symptoms of long COVID include breathlessness, headaches, cough, fatigue and cognitive impairment or ‘brain fog’.
With the virus restricting the day to day activity of an individual, the illness transforms not only their personal health, but ripples through their personal life, effecting their finances, their family and even friends.
What support is there to treat long COVID?
Currently, there is no drug approved to treat long COVID. Instead, doctors try to treat individual symptoms of the condition through physiotherapy, speech therapy or breathing exercises, and in some cases, patients are referring on to specialists in cardiology neurology and respiratory care.
The CDC reports that many post-COVID conditions can be improved through already established symptom management approaches (e.g., breathing exercises to improve symptoms of dyspnea). Creating a comprehensive rehabilitation plan may be helpful for some patients and might include physical and occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, vocational therapy, as well as neurologic rehabilitation for cognitive symptoms.
A conservative physical rehabilitation plan might be indicated for some patients; consultation with physiatry for cautious initiation of exercise and recommendations about pacing may be useful. Gradual return to exercise as tolerated could be helpful for most patients. Optimizing management of underlying medical conditions might include counselling on lifestyle components such as nutrition, sleep, and stress reduction (e.g. meditation).
Holistic Support for Patients with Post-COVID Conditions
Evidence indicates that holistic support for the patient throughout their illness course can be beneficial. Recognizing and validating the impact of illness on quality of life should be part of the ongoing healthcare professional and patient interaction. Healthcare professionals can provide information on peer support resources (e.g., patient support groups, online forums). Support groups are connecting individuals, providing support, and sharing resources for persons affected by COVID-19. When material, employment or other social support needs are identified, healthcare professionals should consider referral themselves and engaging a social worker, case worker, community health worker, or similarly trained professional to assist.