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Clinicians and researchers have focused on the acute phase of COVID-19 infection, but some recovered patients discharged from acute care may require ongoing monitoring of long-term effects Research shows that it is becoming more and more apparent.
so Research letter Published online July 9th American Medical Association JournalColleagues of the Gemelli Against COVID-19 Post-Acute Care Study Group, Angelo Calfi, Maryland, and Rome, Italy, found that 87.4% of 143 previously hospitalized patients were 2 months after their first episode. He has reported at least one persistent symptom over the past month, and more than one month after discharge.
From April 21 to May 29, post-discharge evaluation of patients who met the SARS-CoV-2 negative criteria, including the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, was performed.
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Only 12.6% of 143 patients were completely free of COVID-19 symptoms
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32% of patients had 1 or 2 symptoms and 55% had 3 or more symptoms
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No one had signs or symptoms of fever or other acute illness
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53.1% of patients were still tired, 43.4% had dyspnea, 27.3% had arthralgia, 21.7% had chest pain
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44.1% EuroQol Visual Analog Scale..
The average age of the sample cohort assessed by the recently established COVID-19 Patient Services at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli was 56.5 years, and 37% were female. The average length of stay was 13.5 days. During hospitalization, 72.7% of patients showed evidence of interstitial pneumonia. Non-invasive ventilation It was administered to 14.7% of patients and 4.9% underwent invasive ventilation.
The reality of the remaining symptoms has led the Carfi clinic to schedule a final “wrap-up visit” for the patient after a full evaluation. “At that time, the doctor will prescribe what is needed to correct the abnormalities discovered during the full evaluation,” said Calfi, a gemologist at the Gemeri Clinic. Medscape Medical News.. “These usually include vitamin supplements and, in some cases, prescriptions for new drugs such as anticoagulants, if needed.”
Patients can also enroll in a training program that monitors their respiratory status.
Here in North America, doctors Road to recovery Long, upward symptoms that last longer than acute symptoms influenza infection. “We see patients who were first diagnosed in March or April and still have symptoms in July,” said Zijian Chen, MD, an endocrinologist and dean of medicine. Post COVID Care Center at Mount Sinai Health System In New York City.
“The persistent symptoms of COVID patients are much worse than those of flu patients. Even flu patients who spend time in the intensive care unit can fully recover and optimize their breathing before discharge,” Chen said. It was Medscape Medical News.
Similar to the Italian study, patients with COVID-19 who are persistently short of breath, need supplemental oxygen, or have persistent chest pain during exercise, blood clotting problems, poor concentration, gastrointestinal distress, and muscle weakness. Power that some patients have with diminished grip strength. Some do not rule out permanent lung damage. “Even asymptomatic individuals already show lung scars on the image,” he said.
The Mount Sinai program offers specialized interdisciplinary management including CT scans, endoscopy, and drugs such as respiratory medications and anticoagulants. We also provide training to deal with fatigue and poor health caused by infections. Symptoms are not medically treatable, but they affect quality of life.
“These patients improve, but after a year, I still have symptoms that need monitoring,” Chen said.
There was no specific funding for this study. Carfi and colleagues do not disclose the relevant financial relationships. Chen does not disclose the financial relationships involved.
JAMA.. Published online 9th July 2020. Research letter
Diana Swift is a medical journalist based in Toronto, Canada. [email protected]
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