Long CoVid

EAPM suggests adopted the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine 2024 Long CoVid Definition:

Long CoVid is an infection-associated chronic condition that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least 3 months as a continuous, relapsing and remitting, or progressive disease state that affects one or more organ systems.

Long CoVid manifests in multiple ways. A complete enumeration of possible signs, symptoms, and diagnosable conditions of long CoVid would have hundreds of entries. Any organ system can be involved, and long CoVid patients can present with

• Single or multiple symptoms, such as: shortness of breath, cough, persistent fatigue, post-exertional malaise, difficulty concentrating, memory changes, recurring headache, lightheadedness, fast heart rate, sleep disturbance, problems with taste or smell, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.
• Single or multiple diagnosable conditions, such as: interstitial lung disease and hypoxemia, cardiovascular disease and arrhythmias, cognitive impairment, mood disorders, anxiety, migraine, stroke, blood clots, chronic kidney disease, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and forms of dysautonomia, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), fibromyalgia, connective tissue diseases, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren’s syndrome.

Important features of Long CoVid:

• Long CoVid can follow asymptomatic, mild, or severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Previous infections may have been recognized or unrecognized.
• Long CoVid can be continuous from the time of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection or can be delayed in onset for weeks or months following what had appeared to be full recovery from acute infection.
• Long CoVid can affect children and adults, regardless of health, disability, or socioeconomic status, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or geographic location.
• Long CoVid can exacerbate pre-existing health conditions or present as new conditions.
• Long CoVid can range from mild to severe. It can resolve over a period of months or can persist for months or years.
• Long CoVid can be diagnosed on clinical grounds. No biomarker currently available demonstrates conclusively the presence of long CoVid.
• Long CoVid can impair individuals’ ability to work, attend school, take care of family, and care for themselves. It can have a profound emotional and physical impact on patients and their families and caregivers.

Use Long CoVid on all references. Although some references and people abbreviate Long CoVid to LC, the abbreviation is not in widespread use. Do not abbreviate.

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