Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Conditions
Brief summary
Post COVID-19 usually occurs 3 months from the onset of COVID-19 with symptoms that last for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis. Patients report a range of disabling symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive impairment, memory loss and mental health and employment issues. This clinical heterogeneity complicates the identification of the appropriate needs and care. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to identify subgroups (clusters) of post COVID patients based on clinical symptoms, demographic characteristics, levels of fatigue and physical, cognitive and psychological functioning of the individuals.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Hasselt University
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
The participant must report current persisting symptoms (such as brain fog, anxiety, shortness of breath, headaches but also others) and indicate on the Post COVID-19 Functional Status Scale that these have an impact on everyday functioning (grade 2, 3, and 4). These symptoms need to be present for more than two months. Further inclusion criteria are: * Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) score \> 4 * Aged over 18 years old * Willing to sign the digital informed consent * Dutch speaking and Dutch understanding * Be tested positive for COVID-19, i.e. by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), computed tomography (CT) of the lungs, or symptom-based diagnosis by the general practitioner.
Exclusion criteria
* Pregnant women * Pacemaker, defibrillator * Brain or nerve disorders * Epilepsy * A copper spiral or recent bone fracture
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Physical evaluation | Day 1 | Hand grip strength (Jamar hand dynamometer) \& Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT) |
| Fatigue severity | Day 1 | Fatigue severity scale (FSS) |
| Psychological evaluation | Day 1 | Anxiety and depression Scale (HADS); MINI-S, MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview - Simplified (Overbeek \& Schruers 2019) |
| Cognitive evaluation | Day 1 | Multi-modal Evaluation of Sensory Sensitivity (MESSY); Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) |
Countries
Belgium
Outcome results
None listed