Filenews 5 October 2022
A diagnosis referring to Long Covid syndrome has 29,377 beneficiaries of the GHS, a number that confirms the estimates for the percentage of people who suffer from coronavirus and then present symptoms for a long time.
According to the data of the Long Covid Cyprus network, the youngest patient with Long Covid is 5 years old and the oldest is 73 years old. In both men and women, symptoms of Long Covid are observed, but men seem to be getting sicker.
The Long Covid Cyprus network has recorded the symptoms and psychosocial problems faced by patients through two different questionnaires which were answered by its members. From the answers received, there is a huge need for psychosocial support for patients, in addition to the medical care they need.
In detail, the data:
From the data obtained by the network from the HIO, until the end of last month in the software of the GHS, 29,377 beneficiaries brought a diagnosis that refers to the long covid syndrome, a number that confirms the estimates for the percentage of people who are sick with coronavirus and then show symptoms for a long time.
Long covid is a multisystemic inflammatory condition that can affect many organs and manifest itself with many different symptoms in each. It cannot be predicted who will develop long covid, nor does it seem that age, underlying conditions or vaccination status play a role, which is why we record it at all ages and in people regardless of vaccination status. However, both the clinical manifestations and the mechanisms that cause it have been largely elucidated. What there is a big gap in, despite the accumulation of knowledge, is the best way to deal with it. However, it seems that early detection and diagnosis contribute significantly to the timely treatment of symptoms and the restoration of the functionality of the person. This is extremely important, as one thing we now know for sure is that people with long-term symptoms after COVID19 have a serious problem of returning to their daily lives, resulting in difficulty in their daily activities, often absent from work, or even isolating themselves at home for long periods of time. The social and economic implications of the situation are therefore very great, especially given the large number of people suffering from this situation. So what should the medical community and the authorities do? To recognize the situation, to work with all stakeholders involved, including all health professions and patients, to develop protocols and algorithms for dealing with this situation, and to strengthen the research efforts that already exist at international level, in order to provide the necessary care and rehabilitation to this growing group of patients.
THE REPORTS OF PATIENTS THROUGH THE QUESTIONNAIRES OF "Long Covid Cypus"
The team of doctors and other scientists of the "Long Covid Cypus" network periodically prepares a questionnaire which it puts before its members in order to regularly update the data around this syndrome since the aim is to have constant communication and recording of the way in which patients themselves experience this condition.
To date, two such questionnaires have been answered, the results of which in fact confirm the international reports and recordings to date.
The first questionnaire was prepared by the osak collaborators professor of Sociology, Konstantinos Fellas, associate professor of Pharmacology, Christos Petrou and the President of the Scientific Advisory Committee of OSAK, assistant professor of Pathology, Konstantinos Tsioutis (analysis was done by IMR).
The sample consisted of 528 people (women and men), of all economic strata and ages. 55% said that before their infection, they considered the coronavirus as a serious condition which, however, they believed, had a mild outcome. 36% with anxiety and reticence, 8% with indifference and 1% with obsolescence. The questionnaire was at the disposal of patients during the period October 2021 – April 2022.
As it emerged from the analysis:
One in five people said they faced discrimination during and after contracting coronavirus, 57% were removed from their social environment,
25% were still experiencing financial problems when filling out the questionnaire, while 60% were still showing at least one symptom of Covid-19.
After the disease:
>> 36% still show symptoms but are mild.
>> 26% have symptoms that are "annoying" but not serious.
>> 9% still have severe symptoms.
>> 30% said they did not show any other symptoms.
To treat the symptoms they present after their illness:
>> 50% said they have visited a staff or specialist doctor.
>> 41% did not visit a doctor.
>> 8% visited only a specialist doctor.
>> 1% discussed their condition with their pharmacist.
9% had contact with a counsellor psychologist, 81% did not have it and 10% think about doing so.
Duration of symptoms
Of the people who stated that they had symptoms during the disease, 20% reported as the most persistent symptom that lasted after the disease, fatigue, 16% reported taste / smell disorders and 10% cough.
>> 60% said that even today they have at least one symptom.
>> 19% said the symptoms lasted more than two weeks.
>> 17% more than a week.
>> 12% beyond three weeks.
>> 13% over 5 to 8 weeks.
>> 10% beyond four weeks.
>> 9% beyond 12 weeks.
>> 5% over 20 weeks.
>> 2% over 36-52 weeks.
In addition, 79% of the participants were people who had been vaccinated. 19% reported that after vaccination the symptoms they presented after the disease improved, 6% that they worsened, 11% some improved some worsened and 64% that neither the symptoms were negatively nor positively affected by the vaccination.
Of particular interest are the responses of the participants in terms of their social life.
After the illness, 20% said they have problems or difficulties with friends. 57% have moved away from their social environment, 7% have anxiety and 7% have fear.
Financial problems after the disease
After the illness, 25% reported that they have problems with their financial living and 75% that they do not. 73% of those who replied that they have financial problems, said that these concern the fixed costs of the house, 50% the purchase of basic goods, 40% access to health services and 31% difficulties in securing personal expenses, for example, buying clothes or entertainment.
23% said that even today they are not satisfied with their financial living while 5% say they are not satisfied at all.
Problems during and after the disease
During the illness, one in two participants said they had trouble sleeping. Specifically, 56% stated that they had restless sleep, 52% insomnia, 35% short sleep duration and 10% had nightmares.
55% of those who had sleep problems received support from their partner, 22% from children, 16% from parents, 16% from anyone, 14% from friends.
It is important that 5% still have sleep problems while 35% of the participants stated that after the disease they have problems with household chores and self-care. (65% do not face such problems).
Regarding the symptoms that occur after the disease:
>> 97% say they are easily tired.
>> 73% muscle/bone pains.
>> 71% easy shortness of breath/ shortness of breath.
>> 52% confusion/difficulty thinking.
>> 39% concern.
>> 31% fear.
>> 12% indifference.
>> 4% dizziness / headaches.
17% still say they cannot cope with activities involving household chores or personal care.
23% still have depression problems with 2% stating that their condition is not satisfactory at all.
The second questionnaire essentially confirms the findings of the first. It was available to patients between July and August 2022, so it is even more recent reports.
The aim of the questionnaire given to the members of the "Long-Covid Cyprus" network was the brief recording of the greatest daily problems faced by people who present this syndrome.
The questionnaire was in the form of a score and respondents replied as follows:
- To the question "to what extent do you have difficulty in simple cognitive acts? (concentration disorder, you forget easily" score 3 out of 5 gave 95% of participants.
- On the question of to what extent you get tired physically easier than before you got sick, 97% gave a score of 5. 2% score 4 and 1% score 3.
- Sleep disorders have 97% with a score of 3, 2% with a score of 5 and 1% gave a score.
- To the question: "has your social activity been affected, eg is it avoided to go to events, social meetings, etc.?", 42% answered tremendously, 25% quite a lot, 20% a little and 12% a lot (1% did not give an answer).
- To the question: Have your Long-Covid symptoms affected other chronic health problems you may have? 60% answered yes.
The majority of the participants also proceeded with entries in the "open problem reporting field".
Indicatively, the following are mentioned:
- Menstrual problems
- Symptoms triggered other diseases, such as dermatitis. P.I. sent me for further tests for autoimmune but the results were negative
- The smell did not come back.
- Some weeks I feel that I have become almost completely well and suddenly some annoying symptoms come back (musculoskeletal, shortness of breath, tachycardia, tinnitus, etc.)
- I had a problem with the joints.
- I want my life, my old self back.
Update on the Long Covid Cyprus network, 30 August 2022
- The Long Covid Cyprus network was created by OSAK in March 2022
- It has a patient coordination team and a coordinating team of doctors
- The team of doctors includes doctors of various specialties, with experience in the management of patients with COVID19 and Long Covid
- The coordinator of the team of doctors is the president of the OSAK ESR, Dr. Konstantinos Tsioutis
- Coordinator of the patient group is the teacher Antonis Perikleous
- The network has a communication team under the OSAC communication committee
- The number of its members is 603 (based on last week's data), with active participation in the network's facebook page ("Long Covid Cyprus")
- The vast majority of network members are patients with long covid symptoms
- The youngest patient is 5 years old and the oldest is 73 years old
- In both men and women, symptoms of long Covid are observed, but men seem to be getting sicker.
The network has recorded the symptoms and psychosocial problems faced by patients through two different questionnaires which were answered by its members. From the answers received, there is a huge need for psychosocial support for patients, in addition to the medical care they need. (The results are attached)
Further actions and interconnection with other networks and groups
The long covid Cyprus network is a member of the pan-European Network Long Covid Europe and maintains very close relations and cooperation with the Long Covid Greece network.
With the corresponding Greek network Long Covid Greece, online meetings have been held while a joint announcement was issued in the two countries at the same time. A joint scientific workshop is also planned in the near future.
Through the pan-European Long Covid Europe network, the Cypriot network receives information on all the developments around the long covid syndrome, while information and manuals that are used in other European countries are immediately secured, while at the same time the common purposes of the networks are served at local and international level.
In addition to its contacts abroad, Long Covid Cyprus has been in contact with the Minister of Health and the HIO in order to integrate into the GHS services specialized for patients who present severe symptoms.
At the same time, an algorithm for the management of patients with symptoms after the illness with COVID19, which has been sent to all scientific societies of the personal doctors of the GHS, has been prepared by the team of doctors of the network, in order to discuss with them and finalize it with the aim of using it in the context of the GHS.
A nutrition protocol is used for people with long covid, which has been prepared by a member of the osak team of health professionals and works at the SHSO.
The protocol is already being used by the SHSO and is expected to be distributed to the private sector. A similar initiative concerning physiotherapy has begun and is in progress.
Through its contacts in Greece, the network has also secured a guide for the rehabilitation of post-COVID patients which is used in other countries. The guide is translated into Greek and has been published on the network page.
Members of the team of doctors of our network have proceeded to the elaboration of a scientific report which was published and refers to the immediate need to address the long-term health effects of the COVID19 pandemic: Constantinos Tsioutis, Andreas Tofarides and Nikolaos Spernovasilis. "Transition beyond the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: Need to address the long-term health impacts of COVID-19". World Journal of Clinical Cases.
At the moment, through the scientific network of OSAK for COVID-19, large scientific studies are being promoted that will concern patients with long covid syndrome in Cyprus.
A large online workshop is planned in collaboration with Long Covid Greece in which scientists from Cyprus and Greece will participate in order to inform the citizens.
In the summer of 2022, the network held a large online meeting with its members who submitted dozens of questions to the doctors who participated. It is planned to be repeated.
"It's not me"
The network in collaboration with its members has prepared a poster/poster that frames an information campaign that starts today under the title "it is not me".
The poster is a mosaic of the references of our own members. Specifically, the members of our network were asked to describe in a single sentence exactly what they feel.
All the suggestions included in the poster are faithful copying of the reports of the patients themselves.
The slogan "It's not me" was chosen since it was the most common reference among our members. The second most common description was "I don't recognize me", while almost all patients cite "fatigue" as one of their symptoms.
The poster will be distributed in the coming days to all the personal doctors of the GHS whose role in this case is rather decisive.
Finally, special thanks are due to our sponsors MSD and Roche for the valuable and immediate help in the financial call made to him to support Long Covid Cyprus.
