Extract
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, most attention has focused on containing transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and addressing the surge of critically ill patients in acute care settings. Indeed, as of 29 April 2020, over 3 million confirmed cases have been accounted for globally [1]. In the coming weeks and months, emphasis will gradually involve also post-acute care of COVID-19 survivors. It is anticipated that COVID-19 may have a major impact on physical, cognitive, mental and social health status, also in patients with mild disease presentation [2]. Previous outbreaks of coronaviruses have been associated with persistent pulmonary function impairment, muscle weakness, pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, vocational problems, and reduced quality of life to various degrees [3–5].
Abstract
An ordinal tool is proposed to measure the full spectrum of functional outcomes following COVID-19. This “Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) scale” can be used for tracking functional status over time as well as for research purposes. https://bit.ly/3cofGaa
Footnotes
Author contributions: F.A. Klok, G.J.A.M. Boon and B. Siegerink drafted the first version of the manuscript. All authors revised the review critically for important intellectual content and provided final approval for submission.
Conflict of interest: F.A. Klok reports grants from Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi Sankyo, MSD, Actelion, the Netherlands Thrombosis Foundation and the Dutch Heart Foundation, outside the submitted work.
Conflict of interest: G.J.A.M. Boon has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: S. Barco has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: M. Endres reports grants from DFG under Germany's Excellence Strategy (EXC-2049; 390688087) and Bayer, and personal fees from Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Daiichi Sankyo, Amgen, GSK, Sanofi, Covidien, Novartis and Pfizer, outside the submitted work.
Conflict of interest: J.J.M. Geelhoed has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: S. Knauss has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: S.A. Rezek has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: M.A. Spruit reports grants from the Netherlands Lung Foundation and Stichting Astma Bestrijding, and grants and personal fees from AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim, outside the submitted work.
Conflict of interest: J. Vehreschild has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: B. Siegerink has nothing to disclose.
- Received April 30, 2020.
- Accepted May 6, 2020.
- Copyright ©ERS 2020
This version is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Licence 4.0.
