Follow-Up of a Cohort of Patients with Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome in a Belgian Family Practice
Fifty-five patients who suffered from COVID-19, who were still very ill after several months, with extreme fatigue, effort exhaustion, brain fog, anomia, memory disorder, anosmia, dysgeusia, and other multi-systemic health problems have been followed in a family practice setting between May 2021 and...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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Series: | Viruses |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/9/2000 |
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author | Marc Jamoulle Gisele Kazeneza-Mugisha Ayoub Zayane |
author_facet | Marc Jamoulle Gisele Kazeneza-Mugisha Ayoub Zayane |
author_sort | Marc Jamoulle |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Fifty-five patients who suffered from COVID-19, who were still very ill after several months, with extreme fatigue, effort exhaustion, brain fog, anomia, memory disorder, anosmia, dysgeusia, and other multi-systemic health problems have been followed in a family practice setting between May 2021 and July 2022. Data extracted from the medical records of the 55 patients (40 women), mean age 42.4 (12 to 79 years), and a qualitative study of 6 of them using a semi-open-ended questionnaire allowed to highlight the clinical picture described by WHO as post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) also known as long COVID. We used brain single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT-CT) in thirty-two patients with a high severity index and a highly impaired functional status, demonstrating vascular encephalopathy in twenty nine patients and supporting the hypothesis of a persistent cerebral vascular flow disorder in post COVID-19 condition. The patients will benefit from the consortium COVID Human Genetic Effort (covidhge.com) to explore the genetic and immunological basis of their problem, as 23/55 cases don’t have immunological certainty of a COVID-19 infection. There is no known verified treatment. Analyzing the data from the first 52 patients, three categories of patients emerged over time: 16 patients made a full recovery after 6–8 months, 15 patients were able to return to life and work after 12–18 months with some sequelae, both groups being considered cured. In the third group, 21 patients are still very ill and unable to resume their work and life after 18 months. The biopsychosocial consequences on patients’ lives are severe and family doctors are left out in the cold. It is necessary to test the reproducibility of this description, conducted on a small number of patients. Nevertheless, identifying, monitoring and supporting these patients is a necessity in family medicine. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:13:42Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-ca8649b81a374999a3e75d9300e9a7d0 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1999-4915 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:13:42Z |
publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Viruses |
spelling | doaj.art-ca8649b81a374999a3e75d9300e9a7d02023-11-23T19:27:52ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152022-09-01149200010.3390/v14092000Follow-Up of a Cohort of Patients with Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome in a Belgian Family PracticeMarc Jamoulle0Gisele Kazeneza-Mugisha1Ayoub Zayane2HEC Information Sciences, University of Liège, 4000 Liege, BelgiumFaculty of Medicine, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, BelgiumCentre Medical Janson, 6000 Charleroi, BelgiumFifty-five patients who suffered from COVID-19, who were still very ill after several months, with extreme fatigue, effort exhaustion, brain fog, anomia, memory disorder, anosmia, dysgeusia, and other multi-systemic health problems have been followed in a family practice setting between May 2021 and July 2022. Data extracted from the medical records of the 55 patients (40 women), mean age 42.4 (12 to 79 years), and a qualitative study of 6 of them using a semi-open-ended questionnaire allowed to highlight the clinical picture described by WHO as post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) also known as long COVID. We used brain single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT-CT) in thirty-two patients with a high severity index and a highly impaired functional status, demonstrating vascular encephalopathy in twenty nine patients and supporting the hypothesis of a persistent cerebral vascular flow disorder in post COVID-19 condition. The patients will benefit from the consortium COVID Human Genetic Effort (covidhge.com) to explore the genetic and immunological basis of their problem, as 23/55 cases don’t have immunological certainty of a COVID-19 infection. There is no known verified treatment. Analyzing the data from the first 52 patients, three categories of patients emerged over time: 16 patients made a full recovery after 6–8 months, 15 patients were able to return to life and work after 12–18 months with some sequelae, both groups being considered cured. In the third group, 21 patients are still very ill and unable to resume their work and life after 18 months. The biopsychosocial consequences on patients’ lives are severe and family doctors are left out in the cold. It is necessary to test the reproducibility of this description, conducted on a small number of patients. Nevertheless, identifying, monitoring and supporting these patients is a necessity in family medicine.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/9/2000general practicepost-acute COVID-19 syndromemedically unexplained symptomsencephalopathynarrative medicinesingle photon emission computed tomography (SPEC CT scan) |
spellingShingle | Marc Jamoulle Gisele Kazeneza-Mugisha Ayoub Zayane Follow-Up of a Cohort of Patients with Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome in a Belgian Family Practice Viruses general practice post-acute COVID-19 syndrome medically unexplained symptoms encephalopathy narrative medicine single photon emission computed tomography (SPEC CT scan) |
title | Follow-Up of a Cohort of Patients with Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome in a Belgian Family Practice |
title_full | Follow-Up of a Cohort of Patients with Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome in a Belgian Family Practice |
title_fullStr | Follow-Up of a Cohort of Patients with Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome in a Belgian Family Practice |
title_full_unstemmed | Follow-Up of a Cohort of Patients with Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome in a Belgian Family Practice |
title_short | Follow-Up of a Cohort of Patients with Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome in a Belgian Family Practice |
title_sort | follow up of a cohort of patients with post acute covid 19 syndrome in a belgian family practice |
topic | general practice post-acute COVID-19 syndrome medically unexplained symptoms encephalopathy narrative medicine single photon emission computed tomography (SPEC CT scan) |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/9/2000 |
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