Long COVID is a newly recognized infection-associated chronic condition occurring in about 20% of people following infection with SARS-CoV-2. It has been shown to have a substantial negative impact on health, quality of life, ability to work, functional status, and healthcare utilization. The biological basis of Long COVID remains under investigation, and there are no evidence-based treatments.
“Outcomes of Patients with Neurocognitive Symptoms Attending a Long COVID Clinic: A Longitudinal Cohort Study” is the first to look at the health outcomes of patients receiving multimodal treatment in an academic Long COVID clinic. Multimodal treatment consists of patient education on behavioral management of Long COVID, rehabilitation (physical therapy and cognitive rehabilitation), and symptom-targeted drug treatment.
The study was conducted in the Post-COVID Recovery Clinic in the Division of General Internal Medicine at OSUMC. The article was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine by GIM faculty Aaron Friedberg, MD; Erin McConnell, MD; Sarah MacEwan, PhD; Jodi Grandominico, MD, Andrew Schamess, MD, and other esteemed colleagues who specialize in long COVID.
One hundred and fifty patients completed the PROMIS-29 survey, a detailed quality of life assessment, at the first clinic visit, and again after six months of treatment. The group found statistically and clinically significant improvement in all quality-of-life domains: physical functioning, ability to participate in social roles, depression, sleep disturbance, anxiety, pain, and fatigue (see figure immediately below).
