Not sure who wrote or published this, but apparently a new German Long Covid guideline:
register.awmf.org
Not sure who wrote or published this, but apparently a new German Long Covid guideline:
AWMF Leitlinienregister
register.awmf.org
From Bluesky, machine translation:new German Long Covid guideline:
Michael Stingl @neurostingl.bsky.social
There is a new S2k guideline on #PostCovid, and considering how many professional societies collaborated on it, it is really good regarding #MECFS.
AWMF Leitlinienregister
register.awmf.org
It is established that...
...PEM is the hallmark symptom of ME/CFS, as distinct from exercise intolerance
...the evaluation of PEM must be conducted clinically
...exercise testing must not be routine due to the risk of deterioration in the case of PEM
...pacing is the central treatment concept for PEM, in clear contrast to GET
...the NASA Lean Test is a valid instrument for the diagnosis of POTS
...POTS is to be differentiated from anxiety disorders
For a guideline in which surely not only "proponents" of ME/CFS were involved, the psychiatric and psychosomatic passages are significantly more nuanced than one might have expected given some of the previous debates.
Hopefully, the esteemed medical assessors will also read these guidelines. The content regarding the assessment of PEM clearly contradicts current evaluative practice, which tends to trivialize PEM and ME/CFS in the absence of objective markers.
From Bluesky:From Bluesky, machine translation:
Es gibt eine neue S2k-Leitlinie zu #PostCovid, und wenn man bedenkt, wie viele Fachgesellschaften da mitgearbeitet haben, ist sie bezüglich #MECFS wirklich gut.
AWMF Leitlinienregister
register.awmf.org
Es wird festgehalten, dass...
...PEM das Leitsymptom von ME/CFS ist, in Abgrenzung von Belastungsintoleranz
...die Evaluation von PEM klinisch zu erfolgen hat
...Ergometrie wegen Verschlechterungsgefahr bei PEM keine Routine sein darf
...Pacing das zentrale Behandlungskonzept bei PEM ist, in klarer Abgrenzung zu GET
...der NASA Lean Test ein valides Instrument zur Diagnose von POTS ist
...POTS von Angsterkrankung abzugrenzen ist
Für eine Leitlinie, wo sicher nicht nur "Befürworter" von ME/CFS dabei waren, sind die psychiatrisch-psychosomatischen Passagen doch deutlich differenzierter, als man es angesichts mancher bisheriger Debatten erwarten hätte können.
Hoffentlich lesen auch die werten Gutachter*innen diese Leitlinien. Die Inhalte zur Beurteilung von PEM widersprechen durchaus der aktuell gelebten gutachterlichen Praxis, PEM und ME/CFS ohne objektiven Marker zu bagatellisieren.
Bettina Grande @bettinagrande.bsky.social
1/5
In January, I wrote here about the upcoming vote on the S2k guideline for Long/Post-COVID #MECFS.
Now it has been published.
Unfortunately, the amount of consensus a recommendation receives and how well it is scientifically evidenced are two different matters.
2/5
In the process of developing guidelines, one wrestles over phrasing, makes compromises, and can be outvoted.
A systematic review of the available studies is not a prerequisite for an S2k guideline.
In my collaboration, my primary concern was the protection of people with #MECFS:
3/5
For this reason, I am glad that #PEM and #Pacing are given significant space in the guideline.
Nevertheless, there are formulations that are disastrous in their consequences:
For example, on p. 32, in the background text under possible "borrowings" from studies on ME/CFS, exercise therapy is also mentioned.
4/5
Those seeking guidance there may read this as an argument for activation in ME/CFS.
This is dangerous, because prescribed increases in exertion can massively exacerbate symptoms in #MECFS #PEM and lead to lasting deterioration of the condition.
5/5
I regret that it was not possible to consistently document this state of knowledge throughout the S2k guideline.
For those affected, I hope that practitioners receive at least enough guidance to protect people with #MECFS #PEM from incorrect treatments.
AWMF Leitlinienregister
register.awmf.org