August 8, 2024

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COVD: The Late Phase/PASC/Long COVID

Long COVID Defined
We read that “In recognition of the shortcomings of the existing definitions, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health in the Department of Health and Human Services tasked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) with developing an improved definition for Long COVID that would take into account the needs of patients as well as the views and understanding of a range of experts. Here, we describe the process and rationale for the resulting 2024 NASEM long Covid definition.” These are the committee members and lead staff who produced the definition and they are sharing the experience and process of producing this definition. They share that the committee used a multiphase process of systematic engagement and information gathering. This process included the use of focus groups, a questionnaire, a public comment portal, and several public meetings, including a two-day symposium. More than 1,300 people participated in these activities, including patients and caregivers, public health and health care professionals, researchers, policy and advocacy professionals, payers, health care business professionals, and members of the public. Definition: Long Covid is an infection-associated chronic condition that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least three months as a continuous, relapsing and remitting, or progressive disease state that affects one or more organ systems. The authors conclude, “A standard definition should enable better tracking of the burden of Long COVID and facilitate the design and conduct of robust clinical trials that produce better treatments for this and other infection-associated chronic conditions. Above all, we hope that this definition contributes to compassionate and effective care for all patients in whom Long COVID is diagnosed.”

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsb2408466