Dietz Tiffany K, Brondstater Kirsten N
School of Health Professions, Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA, United States.
Front Med (Lausanne). 2024 Jun 14;11:1430444. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1430444. eCollection 2024.
Long COVID is a condition that develops in a subset of patients after COVID-19 infection comprising of symptoms of varying severity encompassing multiple organ systems. Currently, long COVID is without consensus on a formal definition, identifiable biomarkers, and validated treatment. Long COVID is expected to be a long-term chronic condition for a subset of patients and is associated with suffering and incapacity. There is an urgent need for clear management guidelines for the primary care provider, who is essential in bridging the gap with more specialized care to improve quality of life and functionality in their patients living with long COVID. The purpose of this mini review is to provide primary care providers with the latest highlights from existing literature regarding the most common long COVID symptoms and current management recommendations. This review also highlights the underutilized interventions of stellate ganglion blocks and low-dose naltrexone, both with well-established safety profiles demonstrated to improve quality of life and functionality for patients suffering with some symptoms of long COVID, and encourages prompt referral to interventional pain management.
长期新冠是指一部分患者在感染新冠病毒后出现的一种病症,其症状严重程度各异,涉及多个器官系统。目前,对于长期新冠,在正式定义、可识别的生物标志物以及经过验证的治疗方法上尚未达成共识。长期新冠预计会成为一部分患者的长期慢性病,并且与痛苦和功能丧失相关。对于初级保健提供者而言,迫切需要明确的管理指南,他们在弥合与更专业护理之间的差距以改善长期新冠患者的生活质量和功能方面至关重要。本小型综述的目的是向初级保健提供者提供现有文献中有关最常见的长期新冠症状和当前管理建议的最新要点。本综述还强调了星状神经节阻滞和低剂量纳曲酮这两种未得到充分利用的干预措施,二者都具有公认的安全特性,已证明可改善患有某些长期新冠症状的患者的生活质量和功能,并鼓励及时转诊至介入性疼痛管理。