Long COVID - An Update

Primary Care Knowledge Boost

Doctors Sara and Lisa talk to talk to GP and Professor of General Practice Research Dr Carolyn Chew-Graham about the current landscape of Long COVID three years on. She spoke to us on the topic back in August 2021, but what we know and some of the treatments have moved on from then. In this talk we discuss why the patient-preferred term is Long COVID rather than Post COVID Syndrome, symptoms, how many people are living with the condition in the UK to date and some of the types of management and help that are available.

You can use these podcasts as part of your CPD - we don’t do certificates but they still count :)

Useful resources:

• Your COVID Recovery Website: https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/
• Interviews with Patients with Long COVID: https://healthtalk.org/Long-Covid-In-Adults/overview
• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome:
  • https://www.potsuk.org
  • https://www.potsuk.org/gp_guide
• BMJ Article on Orthostatic Tachycardia with Infographic Mentioned (March 2023): https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj-2022-072117
• Information on Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome:
  • https://ukmasto.org/#gsc.tab=0
  • https://www.potsuk.org/about-pots/associated-conditions/mcas/
• Greater Manchester Long COVID Support Group: https://hsm.manchester.gov.uk/kb5/manchester/directory/service.page?id=Rn19N5XSimc
• UK Long COVID Support Group: https://www.longcovid.org/
• Support Groups for Families with a Child with Long COVID: https://www.longcovidkids.org/
• Advice for Supporting a Child with Long COVID: https://theconversation.com/supporting-a-child-with-long-covid-tips-from-parents-of-children-living-with-the-condition-195153
• Research on Impact of Long COVID on Racially Minoritised Groups: https://blog.westminster.ac.uk/hicovestudy/
• Research on whether existing Medications have any Impact on Long COVID ‘STIMULATE ICP’: https://www.stimulate-icp.org/
• LOCOMOTION Study looking at Optimising Treatments in Long COVID: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/5/e063505
• Be Part of Research: What Trials are available (here for people with Long COVID): https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/results/search-results?query=long%20covid&location=
• National Institute for Health and Care Research: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/patients-carers-and-the-public/i-want-to-take-part-in-a-study.htm
• Resources around advice for Returning to Work:
  • https://www.som.org.uk/take-planned-approach-managing-long-covid-workforce-new-som-guide
  • https://www.fom.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/longCOVID_guidance_04.pdf
  • https://bjgp.org/content/71/712/508
• NICE RCGP SIGN Guidance on Managing Patients with Long COVID (Last Updated Nov 2021): https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng188
• RCGP Online eLearning Module on Long COVID: https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/view.php?id=492

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This podcast has been made with the support of GP Excellence and Wigan CCG. Given that it is recorded with Greater Manchester clinicians, the information discussed may not be applicable elsewhere and it is important to consult local guidelines before making any treatment decisions.

The information presented is the personal opinion of the healthcare professional interviewed and might not be representative to all clinicians. It is based on their interpretation of current best practice and guidelines when the episode was recorded. Guidelines can change; To the best of our knowledge the information in this episode is up to date as of it’s release but it is the listeners responsibility to review the information and make sure it is still up to date when they listen.

Dr Lisa Adams, Dr Sara MacDermott and their interviewees are not liable for any advice, investigations, course of treatment, diagnosis or any other information, services or products listeners might pursue as a result of listening to this podcast - it is the clinicians responsibility to appraise the information given and review local and national guidelines before making treatment decisions. Reliance on information provided in this podcast is solely at the listeners risk.

The podcast is designed to be used by trained healthcare professionals for education only. We do not recommend these for patients or the general public and they are not to be used as a method of diagnosis, opinion, treatment or medical advice for the general public. Do not delay seeking medical advice based on the information contained in this podcast. If you have questions regarding your health or feel you may have a medical condition then promptly seek the opinion of a trained healthcare professional.