Post-COVID symptoms reported at asynchronous virtual review and stratified follow-up after COVID-19 pneumonia #MMPMID34103378
Taylor RR; Trivedi B; Patel N; Singh R; Ricketts WM; Elliott K; Yarwood M; White V; Hylton H; Allen R; Thomas G; Kapil V; McGuckin R; Pfeffer PE
Clin Med (Lond) 2021[Jul]; 21 (4): e384-e391 PMID34103378show ga
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has strained healthcare systems and how best to address post-COVID health needs is uncertain. Here we describe the post-COVID symptoms of 675 patients followed up using a virtual review pathway, stratified by severity of acute COVID infection. METHODS: COVID-19 survivors completed an online/telephone questionnaire of symptoms after 12+ weeks and a chest X-ray. Dependent on findings at virtual review, patients were provided information leaflets, attended for investigations and/or were reviewed face-to-face. Outcomes were compared between patients following high-risk and low-risk admissions for COVID pneumonia, and community referrals. RESULTS: Patients reviewed after hospitalisation for COVID pneumonia had a median of two ongoing physical health symptoms post-COVID. The most common was fatigue (50.3% of high-risk patients). Symptom burden did not vary significantly by severity of hospitalised COVID pneumonia but was highest in community referrals. Symptoms suggestive of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder were common (depression occurred in 24.9% of high-risk patients). Asynchronous virtual review facilitated triage of patients at highest need of face-to-face review. CONCLUSION: Many patients continue to have a significant burden of post-COVID symptoms irrespective of severity of initial pneumonia. How best to assess and manage long COVID will be of major importance over the next few years.
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Clin+Med+(Lond) 2021 ; 21 (4): e384-e391
