Long COVID - Ambidirectional Cohort Study Arm
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of causes, risks, symptoms and management of long COVID to optimise prevention and treatment- Ambidirectional Cohort Study Arm
IRAS ID
332079
Contact name
Reem Kayyali
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
CROYDON HEALTH SERVICES NHS
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NA, NA
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 16 days
Research summary
According to the Office for National Statistics UK, around 1.9 million people (2.9%) have long COVID, with over 80,000 leaving their jobs due to this condition in the UK. Almost half of COVID-19 survivors experience residual symptoms after six months, which can last for over 12 weeks. However, the cause of these symptoms remains unclear, and the current clinical management of long COVID is symptom-based. The study aims to answer the following research questions:
i. What are the potential risk factors of long COVID in individuals with COVID-19? Are there clinical-specific features associated with individuals with COVID-19 that make them prone to long COVID? What are the trajectories of disease patterns in individuals with long COVID and the outcomes of care pathways in individuals with long COVID?
ii. What are the spectrums of symptoms and signs in individuals with long COVID-19? How can these symptoms and signs be characterised and stratified in order to understand them better? What are the impacts of these persistent symptoms on the individuals? What is the impact of the persistent symptoms on the quality of life?
iii. What cardiopulmonary impairments are associated with long COVID individuals using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)? What are the other complications associated with individuals with long COVID-19?
iv. What is the impact of long COVID-19 on the quality of life (QoL) of individuals?
v. Does Sociodemographic profiles have effect on incidence of long COVID or worsen the condition of the affected individuals?
vi. What are the management options used in managing the long COVID individuals? What are these management options' effectiveness in relieving symptoms and enhancing the quality of life? What factors predict good and poor treatment outcomes in individuals with long COVID?
The study focuses on adult patients (≥ 18 years old) with long COVID, admitted or attending Croydon University Hospital as inpatients, outpatients, or rehab patients. A total of 350 participants will be involved, with 57 undergoing CPET. The study starts on December 15th, 2023, and ends on July 30th, 2025.REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/1426
Date of REC Opinion
22 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion