The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in at least four million infectionsin Norway. The vast majority of cases are diagnosed and followed up in the community, butsome with extensive symptoms and large degree of reduced function are referred toregional Covid-clinics. In total this patient group is placing an enormous burden on thealready over stretched health care services. As the pandemic subsides the emerging threatof long-term disability from COVID remains to be quantified. Brain fog and cognitivesymptoms are common in long COVID in 30% of mild infections resulting in sick leave andloss of daily function, with women overrepresented among long COVID sufferers. The trueprevalence and underlying mechanisms of long COVID remains to be quantified. Althoughvaccination prevents severe infection and death, we have little knowledge on how best torehabilitate those who suffers from long COVID.Here we propose to develop knowledge on treatment interventions to counteract disabilityfrom long COVID and lessening the burden on health care services. We will conduct a studyof where we compare a short group intervention with systematic personalisedneurocognitive rehabilitation to document symptom alleviation. Our overarching goal is todevelop effective programmes for this evolving disease to reduce the suffering for thepatients, and thereby reducing costs for health services and society at large.
Not Provided
Behavioral: One day course
a physical one-day course at the Covid rehabilitation clinic. During these six hours,
general information about rehabilitation principals will be given. Theory about three 15
focus areas of importance will be presented; daily routine, importance of being active
and cognitive training. They will meet others with similar problems and will be given an
opportunity to exchange experience. 8-10 patients will participate in the group.
Behavioral: Individual follow-ups
the patient will meet a therapist in a physical consultation at the Covid rehabilitation
clinic lasting for 1.5 hours. Together they will in detail map out symptoms and
impairment of function in the patient's life. Together the patient and the therapist will
create plan to address these problems consisting of tailored home-based exercises within
the three focus areas. Tree follow-up consultations will be given.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Symptoms attributable to long COVID according to WHO definition [14] that affect
their daily activities
- Positive Covid test; a home-test, PCR test or serology.
- Neurocognitive symptoms
- Age between 18 and 65 years
- Participant is able and willing to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients that do not want to comply to planned physical study visits
- Patients who are unable to complete surveys in Norwegian
- Patients with known chronic neurocognitive disease before Covid-19 or other diseases
that can explain current symptoms
University hospital of North Norway
Tromsø, Troms, Norway
Investigator: Marte Wilhelsmen, MSc
Contact: +4777669163
marte.wilson@unn.no
Maja Wilhelmsen, MD, Ph.d
+4777627834
maja.wilhelmsen@unn.no
Synne G Pedersen, ph.d
+4791838630
Synne.Garder.Pedersen@unn.no
Maja Wilhelmsen, ph.d, Principal Investigator
University Hospital of North Norway