Mapping complaints and their causes in a structured manner
‘In order to properly recognize and treat persistent complaints after an infection with COVID-19, it is necessary to map these complaints and their causes in a structured manner,’ according to Maastricht UMC+.
Long COVID
It is now clear that ‘Long COVID’, the entirety of persistent complaints after a COVID-19 infection, is a common problem that has a major impact on the quality of life of the people who suffer from it.
CORFU study
However, the mechanism behind the development of Lung COVID is not yet sufficiently clear to be able to predict the complaints, make an early diagnosis and be able to treat it in a targeted manner. That is why Maastricht UMC+ has taken the initiative for the CORFU study (Corona Follow Up study), in which data from seven studies are brought together.
‘Treasure of data’
This gives the researchers a wealth of data on more than 10,000 people who have experienced an infection, from a mild form to admission to intensive care. Within the study, researchers from MUMC+ work closely with the EuroQol foundation, Zuyderland Medical Center, Adelante and with researchers from the academic centers in Utrecht, Nijmegen and Leiden.
Questionnaire
In addition to weighing and merging the data from the seven studies, former patients in this study are given a questionnaire about issues such as complaints, quality of life and participation at fixed moments after their infection. In addition to the medical aspects, this questionnaire can also be used to map psychological factors. After all, the further behind the disease, the greater the influence of psychological factors on the quality of life. This questionnaire was co-developed by the EuroQol foundation, which will also develop a patient platform. On this platform, patients can consult their own answers in a simple way – via an individual login – and follow the progress of the complaints.
Lung COVID unraveled
Using this data, the researchers hope to be able to unravel Long COVID. Lead researcher and clinical epidemiologist Sander van Kuijk: ‘We know too little about Lung COVID. Complaints are not easy to analyze. For example: there are people who were seriously ill without persistent complaints afterwards. But there are also people with severe persistent complaints, who had very limited problems with COVID-19 itself.’ Project leader and trainee cardiologist Chahinda Ghossein-Doha: ‘We can use the data to analyze the factors that contribute to the persistent complaints, such as cardiac causes, clotting factors or psychological causes.’
To predict
The analysis of the data also helps to develop a ‘prediction model’. This is a model that can be used, for example, on the basis of patient characteristics or type of complaints, to predict whether and which persistent complaints a person will develop. This will help with early diagnosis and monitoring, and offers starting points for treatment of Lung COVID.
SunMw
The CORFU study is financed from the COVID-19 program of ZonMw. ZonMw stands for good health, prevention and care for everyone, and vulnerable groups in particular. With the COVID-19 program, ZonMw contributes with research to combating the corona pandemic and to preventing or reducing the negative effects of the measures. With its partners, ZonMw creates insight into the (global) social dynamics during and after these and comparable, far-reaching health crises and the measures against them. More information can be found at www.zonmw.nl/coronaonderzoek.
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