Find Resources
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Journal
This editorial from The Lancet Respiratory Medicine discusses the growing public health crisis of Long COVID. It highlights that over 65 million people worldwide are estimated to have post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, and there is an urgent need for preventive, rehabilitative, and therapeutic strategies to address this issue. The article emphasizes the importance of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in reducing the risk of Long COVID and mentions the potential benefits of early outpatient treatment in preventing it. However, challenges remain in defining Long COVID, diagnosing it reliably, and understanding its causes and mechanisms. The article calls for large-scale research initiatives to explore these aspects, identify diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and develop targeted interventions. It also emphasizes the importance of considering the needs of vulnerable populations and providing patient-centered care for Long COVID.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Other
The article discusses the challenges and frustrations surrounding Long COVID research in the United States. Despite substantial investments and numerous research efforts, progress in understanding and treating Long COVID has been slow and disappointing. Experts and patient advocates have criticized the research community for its focus on disease development rather than direct patient care, duplication of studies, and a lack of clinical trials. The authors propose a new hypothesis that Long COVID may be a form of post-infectious syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome, suggesting that traditional biomedical research approaches may not yield meaningful results. Instead, they advocate for a shift towards health services research and measures that directly impact patients’ welfare, including prevention, improved prognosis, access to empathetic care, and quality of life issues. They emphasize the need for collaboration between researchers, patients, and advocacy groups to reset the research agenda effectively.