COVID-19 patients require multi-disciplinary rehabilitation approaches to address persisting symptom profiles and restore pre-COVID QoL, 2022, Faghy

Abstract

Background
Long-COVID diagnosis is prominent, and our attention must support those experiencing debilitating and long-standing symptoms. To establish patient pathways, we must consider the societal and economic impacts of sustained COVID-19. Accordingly, we sought to determine the pertinent areas impacting quality of life (QoL) following a COVID-19 infection.

Research methods
Three hundred and eighty-one participants completed a web-based survey (83% female, 17% male) consisting of 70 questions across 7 sections (demographics, COVID-19 symptoms; QoL; sleep quality; breathlessness; physical activity and mental health). Mean age, height, body mass and body mass index (BMI) were 42 ± 12 years, 167.6 ± 10.4 cm, 81.2 ± 22.2 kg, and 29.1 ± 8.4 kg.m2, respectively.

Results
Participant health was reduced because of COVID-19 symptoms (“Good health” to “Poor health” [P<0.001]). Survey respondents who work reported ongoing issues with performing moderate (83%) and vigorous (79%) work-related activities.

Conclusions
COVID-19 patients report reduced capacity to participate in activities associated with daily life, including employment activities. Bespoke COVID-19 support pathways must consider multi-disciplinary approaches that address the holistic needs of patients to restore pre-pandemic quality of life and address experienced health and wellbeing challenges.

Paywall, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17476348.2022.2063843

 

Well at least is its bespoke one should expect the male therapists to be in made-to measure pinstripes and the ladies in the very best Cashmere.

 

Why the huge gender bias ? There's no evidence for massively higher rate of COVID19 infection in females, no evidence for majorly higher hospitalisation rates and so far no certain evidence that post COVID19 symptoms are more prevalent in females. If as the study suggests moderate and vigorous work-related activities are significant, some statistical representation of the workforce by activity is needed to make sense of what is supposedly being researched.

 

Why is it a valid assumption that rehabilitation must work universally? Doesn't seem smart. Actually, strike that, it's blatantly foolish.

Because that assumption is always present and never challenged as anything other than infallible. It's not just that the idea that it could help is not receiving the criticism it deserves, it's that it is fully assumed that it cannot be anything but universally infallible.

It's an assumption that has destroyed millions of lives. As they go, it's an especially bad one and assumptions tend to be generally awful in most circumstances.