More attention needed for long-term consequences of infectious diseases
Q and C support ask for attention for the long-term consequences of infectious diseases. With both Q fever and COVID-19, people were confronted with a then unknown disease with unknown long-term consequences. Consequences for which society is not yet equipped. Consequences that require attention.
The Social Impact Team recently published its advice on pandemic preparedness in society in the report: 'Prepared together for the next pandemic'.
Q and C support see some themes that are important in a next outbreak and that are not included in the report such as:
- Organizing and safeguarding long-term care and support for chronically ill patients, in the broadest sense (medical, psychological, occupational health and curative and within the social domain),
- Directly focus on knowledge sharing with professionals and patients, both in the acute phase and in the (long-term) aftermath.
Post-COVID figures
The Social Impact Team has published the recent report in particular as a conclusion to its work after the corona pandemic. At the moment, there are an estimated 450.000 people in the Netherlands with long-term complaints after corona, also known as post-COVID or Long COVID. About 90.000 of these patients are severely limited and are therefore unable or barely able to participate in society. In 2023, the Social Impact Team published the advice 'social consequences of long COVID' to the cabinet, which aims to pay more attention to patients with post-COVID.
Social impact post-COVID
Uit the multi-year long-COVID study shows that patients experience an average of fifteen different health complaints. For example, of the participants in the study, only 68% still have paid work and 73% of the patients have deteriorated financially.
The impact of post-COVID is disruptive to the lives of patients and their environment. Due to the accumulation of various physical complaints, post-COVID manifests itself differently in each patient. The consequences of this also affect mental and social well-being.
Prevent in the future
“Despite the large number of valuable recommendations in the MIT report, it is important to draw attention to the long-term consequences of an infectious disease. It is extremely important to be well prepared for this in the event of an outbreak of another infectious disease. The knowledge and experience gained can limit the impact that long-term complaints have on patients and society,” says Annemieke de Groot, director of Q and C support.
