Management of patients with neurological diseases considering post-pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related risks and dangers (...), 2024,

Management of patients with neurological diseases considering post-pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related risks and dangers — An updated European Academy of Neurology consensus statement

Saša R. Filipović, Serefnur Özturk, Daniel Bereczki, Benedetta Bodini, Francesco Cavallieri, Alessandra Fanciulli, Alla Guekht, Raimund Helbok, Sonja Hochmeister, Filippo Martinelli Boneschi, Alberto Priori, Martin Rakusa, Michele Romoli, Barbara Willekens, Marialuisa Zedde, Johann Sellner,
Johann Sellner, Elena Moro, for the Neuro COVID-19 Task Force of the European Academy of Neurology

Abstract
Background and purpose
In October 2020, the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) consensus statement for management of patients with neurological diseases during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was published. Due to important changes and developments that have happened since then, the need has arisen to critically reassess the original recommendations and address new challenges.

Methods
In step 1, the original items were critically reviewed by the EAN COVID-19 Task Force. In addition, new recommendations were defined. In step 2, an online survey with the recommendations forged in step 1 was sent to the Managing Groups of all Scientific and Coordinating Panels of EAN. In step 3, the final set of recommendations was made.

Results
In step 1, out of the original 36 recommendations, 18 were judged still relevant. They were edited to reflect the advances in knowledge and practice. In addition, 21 new recommendations were formulated to address the new knowledge and challenges. In step 2, out of the 39 recommendations sent for the survey, nine were approved as they were, whilst suggestions for improvement were given for the rest. In step 3, the recommendations were further edited, and some new items were formed to accommodate the participants' suggestions, resulting in a final set of 41 recommendations.

Conclusion
This revision of the 2020 EAN Statement provides updated comprehensive and structured guidance on good clinical practice in people with neurological disease faced with SARS-CoV-2 infection. It now covers the issues from the more recent domains of COVID-19-related care, vaccine complications and post-COVID-19 conditions.

Open access: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ene.16408

 

Updated consensus statement from the European Academy of Neurology. No mention of ME/CFS or PEM.

These are their statements on long covid, sorry about the formatting:

1. After recovery from COVID-19, some people may develop fatigue, muscle aches, problems with memory and attention/concentration (‘brain fog’), insomnia, depression and anxiety, orthostatic intolerance, sensory symptoms and tinnitus. These may be the symptoms of the post-COVID-19 condition, sometimes also called long COVID syndrome

1. Before attributing any of the symptoms that have developed following recovery from COVID-19 to the post-COVID-19 condition, a thorough diagnostic search for other causes for the symptoms should be done

1. Post-COVID-19 condition occurs in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, usually within 3 months from the onset of COVID-19, with symptoms that last for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis

1. Symptoms of the post-COVID-19 condition may be new onset, following initial recovery from an acute COVID-19 episode, or persist from the initial illness

1. Symptoms of the post-COVID-19 condition usually resolve after a while, although they may fluctuate or relapse over time

1. Symptoms of the post-COVID-19 condition can be present even 2 years after recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection in up to 40% of survivors

1. It is of utmost importance to give proper attention and detailed information to persons who think that they suffer from the post-COVID-19 condition

1. As soon as the diagnosis related to the post-COVID-19 condition is given, patients need to be taken seriously and management should include not only medications and doctor's contacts but also additional treatments, like occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychological support and support in social issues (especially professional re-integration, financial issues etc.)