Post-Acute COVID-19 – A biopsychosocial trauma and multidisciplinary approach to care
Post-Acute COVID Syndrome has wide-ranging health impacts that need multidisciplinary care to provide effective treatment.
COVID-19 can impact the body through tissue damage to key systems including kidneys, lung and pulmonary functioning, cardiac functioning, the risk for thrombosis (blood clots that can block blood flow and damaged tissue), and mental health symptoms such as depression, PTSD, and anxiety.
In a large study, 488 patients who completed a phone survey post-release from the hospital for COVID-19 found 32% of patients reported ongoing symptoms. The study also found 18.9% had worsening or new symptoms such as difficulty with tasting, walking upstairs and persistent cough. Another study in the European cohort found similar symptom profiles and lower quality of life.
At least 56% of post-acute COVID survivors tested positive for one of the following: PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders, insomnia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Risk factors that increased the chance for long-term COVID symptoms were: the length of stay in ICU, use of a ventilator, presence of PTSD or depression, and disruptions in lung functioning. Some of the biological markers seen are increases in inflammation (Il-1, Il-6, D-Dimer), stress reactivity, autonomic dysregulation, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (an autonomic dysregulation syndrome impacting cardiac output, cognitive functioning, and a wide array of symptoms).
According to these authors, it is important to know that COVID care does not end with discharge from the hospital. They go on to note: ‘interdisciplinary cooperation is needed for comprehensive care of these patients in the outpatient setting.' SE could offer unique insights for multiple professions in managing the complex health and mental health sequelae from the Post-Acute COVID Syndrome.
Read More: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01283-z
Nalbandian, A., Sehgal, K., Gupta, A., Madhavan, M. V., McGroder, C., Stevens, J. S., … & Wan, E. Y. (2021). Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Nature medicine, 27(4), 601-615.