PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Antoniou, Katerina M.
AU  - Vasarmidi, Eirini
AU  - Russell, Anne-Marie
AU  - Andrejak, Claire
AU  - Crestani, Bruno
AU  - Delcroix, Marion
AU  - Dinh-Xuan, Anh Tuan
AU  - Poletti, Venerino
AU  - Sverzellati, Nicola
AU  - Vitacca, Michele
AU  - Witzenrath, Martin
AU  - Tonia, Thomy
AU  - Spanevello, Antonio
TI  - European Respiratory Society statement on long COVID follow-up
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.02174-2021
DP  - 2022 Aug 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 2102174
VI  - 60
IP  - 2
4099  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/60/2/2102174.short
4100  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/60/2/2102174.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2022 Aug 01; 60
AB  - Patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection frequently experience symptom burden post-acute infection or post-hospitalisation. We aimed to identify optimal strategies for follow-up care that may positively impact the patient's quality of life (QoL). A European Respiratory Society (ERS) Task Force convened and prioritised eight clinical questions. A targeted search of the literature defined the timeline of “long COVID” as 1–6 months post-infection and identified clinical evidence in the follow-up of patients. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria report an association of characteristics of acute infection with persistent symptoms, thromboembolic events in the follow-up period, and evaluations of pulmonary physiology and imaging. Importantly, this statement reviews QoL consequences, symptom burden, disability and home care follow-up. Overall, the evidence for follow-up care for patients with long COVID is limited.Follow-up care of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 is crucial and may improve their quality of life. More evidence and research is emerging to understand the causes, mechanisms and risks of long COVID consequences. https://bit.ly/3J1WMWy