Follow-up of patients with post covid-19 condition after a multidisciplinary team assessment: a pilot study

Abstract

Objective: To follow up patients with post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) 6 months after a multidisciplinary team assessment in specialist care regarding symptoms of pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue and cognition, level of activity, physical activity and sick leave. Methods: A prospective pilot study conducted in a clinical setting of patients (n = 22) with PCC referred from primary healthcare to a specialist clinic for a 2 day-multidisciplinary team assessment followed by a subsequent rehabilitation plan. Data were collected through questionnaires filled in prior to the team assessment and 6 months later. Results: Fifteen of the initial 22 patients participated in the follow-up. No statistically significant improvements were seen in any of the questionnaires after 6 months. However, 76.9% of the participants perceived the intervention as being helpful. This differed between the genders, where all the women 100% (n = 8) perceived it as being helpful, compared with 40% (n = 2) of the men (p = 0.012). Conclusions: Based on these findings, the benefit of a multidisciplinary team assessment of PCC is not fully convincing. However, since the participants themselves perceived the intervention as being helpful, the team assessment seems to be of some value. Further studies with larger populations would be of interest.

Keywords

• Post covid-19 syndrome
• residual symptoms
• rehabilitation