Implications for the General Practitioner of Long Covid Syndrome

  • Jose Luis Turabian Specialist in Family and Community Medicine, Health Center Santa Maria de Benquerencia. Regional Health Service of Castilla la Mancha (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain.
Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Post-COVID-19 condition, Long COVID, General Practice

Abstract

People living with "Long Covid" describe a complex and multifaceted condition that involves a variety of physical, cognitive, psychological, and social implications. There is an emerging recognition of Long Covid but the evidence base is limited and fragmented and many research questions remain. It is currently estimated that 10% of people whose COVID-19 was managed at home experience persistent symptoms beyond a month, indicating a significant impact on the economy and healthcare. The complexity of managing the post-COVID-19 syndrome, including the various pre-morbidities and multisystemic manifestations of COVID-19 infection of affected patients requires professionals with integrated approaches rather than specific organs or diseases, and that is the place of the General Practitioner (GP) in health services. The basic pillars of general medicine are applied to the assistance of Long COVID giving rise to a series of key areas for therapeutic interventions of the GP: 1. Understanding and managing symptoms; 2. Management of functional impact on return to work, roles, and activities of daily living; 3.-Attention centered on the patient, empathy, and assertiveness (avoid iatrogenesis); 4. Rehabilitation; 5. Vaccination; 6. Registration and Research; 7. Community care; and 8. Patient education.

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Published
2021-12-31
How to Cite
Turabian, J. L. (2021). Implications for the General Practitioner of Long Covid Syndrome. International Research in Medical and Health Sciences, 4(6), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.36437/irmhs.2021.4.6.A