The crisis after the crisis – Long-COVID: a complex disease picture
The acute COVID-19 crisis is now behind us: the pandemic with a new respiratory virus that caused the largest number of hospital and ICU admissions in a short period of time that we have ever experienced in our working lives. We are happy that we have left this behind us, and that we have largely resumed our lives. Unfortunately, this is certainly not the case for everyone: especially not for patients who are still struggling with the long-term consequences of COVID-19 on a daily basis. In the media and perhaps also regularly in your consultation room, the call for help is heard. Among this group of Long-COVID patients (estimated at more than 90.000 in the Netherlands with serious complaints, which severely limits their daily lives (work and private life), there are also many healthcare providers who were infected during their work, particularly in the first wave, or in the waves thereafter.
Although the majority of patients with long-COVID recover spontaneously or with paramedical support (85% within the first year), a significant number (>10%) do not recover or even deteriorate further over time. The first of them have now been ill for almost 4 years and for them there is no perspective. Certainly with the knowledge now that many of those seriously affected by Sars-COV1 in 2003 with similar complaints, 20 years later, have still not recovered, it is important to take action for this group. This group of long-Covid patients experiences a high disease burden, feels forgotten and needs attention, recognition, biomedical research and better care: the crisis after the crisis.
Read more in the article by Willem Pieters, Pulmonologist, C-support and Merel Hellemons, Pulmonologist, Erasmus MC written for the professional journal for pulmonologists. Pulmoscript – December 2023.
Sleep disorders, common but under-reported in post-COVID syndrome
Many people have persistent complaints after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. With this so-called post-COVID syndrome (PCS), people have an average of between ten and fifteen complaints. In addition to fatigue, concentration problems and memory problems, sleep problems are common. Sleep disorders are a complex problem in this patient population. Fatigue is the most prominent complaint in PCS. However, this is no guarantee for good sleep, because both falling asleep and sleeping through the night problems are often seen in PCS. Much is still unclear about the cause. A disturbed sleep pattern, such as taking many naps during the day, probably plays a role. In addition, physical problems, such as sleep apnea, pain and restless legs, can keep people with PCS awake. Finally, mental problems, such as depression, anxiety and PTSD, have a significant, negative impact on sleep quality. To better understand the causes and develop effective solutions, further research, particularly with MRI scans and polysomnography, is urgently needed.
Read more in the article by Willem Pieters, Pulmonologist, Somnologist at the Dutch Sleep Institute and medical advisor to C-support, in the trade journal i-doctor – Continuing Education Magazine for Longziekten.
