Last year, the Swedish Medical and Social Assessment Agency (SBU) identified scientific support for the care, treatment and rehabilitation of long-term symptoms of covid-19. The result It showed that few studies have been published – but much more is in the pipeline.

SBU has now produced a list of the top ten postcovid research questions.

We have allowed people who are affected in different ways by the long-term symptoms of COVID-19 to prioritize research issues together. The goal is to draw attention to where the research needs are seen to be greatest, Kristel Hilberg, a project manager at SBU, says in a press release.

The list is based on surveys conducted with patients, researchers, and healthcare workers, among others. Since then, the Commission has held several meetings to define priorities where the most important issues have been raised.

Many of the issues on the list are related to treatment and rehabilitation. Other things that are needed are studies to clarify why some people develop long-term symptoms of covid-19 and different diagnostic methods.

The aim is for the report to contribute to ongoing research on issues considered to be of particular interest. The main target groups are researchers and funders of research, as well as authorities and organizations that compile research.

On June 2, the Swedish Research Council call for project grants for research in postcovid will open.

Top ten list:

  1. What treatment helps treat long-term neurological symptoms as well as cognitive disorders (such as brain fatigue, memory difficulty, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, numbness, tremors, and headaches) in Covid-19?
  2. How can you improve rehabilitation interventions after long-term problems with the Coronavirus and what types of interventions should be included (occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychologist, counselor, speech therapist, dietitian, etc.)?
  3. What is the most effective treatment against long-term impaired breathing / oxygen uptake or respiratory arrest problems in COVID-19?
  4. What causes some people to develop long-term symptoms of Covid-19?
  5. How can people with long-term symptoms of covid-19 be objectively diagnosed, regardless of whether they have a positive PCR test during the acute phase or whether they have detectable antibodies?
  6. Could extended diagnostics to examine affected organs lead to better treatment and possibly face future complications for people with long-term symptoms of Covid-19 virus?
  7. What is the underlying cause of the different types of symptoms for people with long-term symptoms of COVID-19?
  8. How can the acute process be treated to prevent the emergence of long-term symptoms of Covid-19 virus?
  9. What are the clinical consequences / organ changes that occur long after infection with the COVID-19 virus?
  10. Is the immune response (such as the response of T cells, antibodies to COVID-19, and autoimmune development) different in people with long-term symptoms of COVID-19?
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