Establishing a Peer Support Program for Survivors of COVID-19: A Report From the Critical and Acute Illness Recovery Organization

Abstract

stimates from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic suggest that about 20% of adults with COVID-19 are hospitalized, and in approximately 20% of those, severe acute respiratory failure develops that requires life-support treatments such as invasive mechanical ventilation. 1,2 Results of research from before the COVID-19 pandemic suggest that most of these adults with critical illness will survive to hospital discharge. 3,4 Survival, for many, will come with a legacy of new or worsening deficits in physical, 5 mental, 6,7 or cognitive health in the months to years after hospital discharge. 8,9 Post-intensive care syndrome has become the agreedupon term for these new or worsening health problems that can persist beyond an acute hospitalization for serious illness. 8 The psychosocial outcomes in survivors of critical illness include high rates of clinically significant anxiety, 10 depression, 11 and posttraumatic stress symptoms. 12 Related, many survivors are unable to return to work 13 and thereby suffer financial consequences that further the distress of survivors and their loved ones 14 ; income loss by both the survivor and family members who curtail work to serve as caregivers

Addressing the post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a multidisciplinary model of care

“…In parallel with clinical pathways of care, structured peer support groups, with trained moderators, provide an innovative opportunity for survivors of COVID-19 and their caregivers to support one another in their recovery. 112 The current paucity of data on the effectiveness of specific interventions to treat PASC means that PASC clinics will need to maintain the ability to adapt to evolving evidence ( panel ). Such evidence should be informed by the inclusion in follow-up and research of a diverse population of patients, and include evaluation of innovative approaches to care, such as telemedicine and new electronic applications.…”

Recovery, rehabilitation and follow-up services following critical illness: an updated UK national cross-sectional survey and progress report

“…Barriers (eg, non-attendance, access to skilled facilitators and bureaucratic limitations) and enablers (eg, motivated interprofessional clinicians, patient and family volunteers, links to ICU follow-up clinics) to peer support services have been previously explored through focus group inquiry with clinicians. 14 17 As peer support continues to embed within the armamentarium of postcritical illness recovery, including for patients surviving post-COVID-19 40 , our data can be used to support the emergence of other models of delivery within the UK setting, with reference to these barriers and enablers to ensure individual participant preferences for mode of engagement with peer support are met.…”

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dementia Risk: Potential Pathways to Cognitive Decline

“…While long-term studies on the effectiveness of recovery therapies have not yet been evaluated, strategies based on the medical needs of recovered critically ill COVID-19 patients and past recovery experience from patients with sepsis may provide some guidance [150, 267]. For example, recovering COVID-19 patients may benefit from adhering to structured exercise programs, attending physical/occupational therapy, optimizing nutrition, reducing existing cardiovascular risk factors, practicing proper sleep hygiene, seeking out peer support [268], attending cognitive therapy/training, and seeking mental health support [150, 267]. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of risk for cognitive decline or persistence of cognitive symptoms and monitor cognitive health closely, seeking formal neuropsychological evaluation when indicated [267].…”