Journal Article Summary
The article offers a thorough analysis of post-acute COVID-19, relating to those patients who have experienced a delayed recovery from the infection. These patients can be divided into two categories: those who have serious thromboembolic complications, and those with a non-specific clinical picture, mainly characterised by breathlessness and fatigue. Based on the UK COVID Symptom Study, in which people enter their ongoing symptoms on a smartphone app, around 10% of patients who tested positive remain unwell beyond three weeks, and a smaller proportion for months. A recent study in the US also found that only 65% of people had returned to their previous health level 14-21 days after a positive test. The authors discuss further the urge for clinical management of long-COVID to revolve around a whole-patient perspective, highlighting that no evidence-based recommendations for the management of post-acute covid-19 exist yet.
