The Greifswald Post COVID Rehabilitation Study and Research (PoCoRe)–Study Design, Characteristics and Evaluation Tools

Abstract

(1) Background: COVID-19 is often associated with significant long-term symptoms and disability, i.e., the long/post-COVID syndrome (PCS). Even after presumably mild COVID-19 infections, an increasing number of patients seek medical help for these long-term sequelae, which can affect various organ systems. The pathogenesis of PCS is not yet understood. Therapy has so far been limited to symptomatic treatment. The Greifswald Post COVID Rehabilitation Study (PoCoRe) aims to follow and deeply phenotype outpatients with PCS in the long term, taking a holistic and comprehensive approach to the analysis of their symptoms, signs and biomarkers. (2) Methods: Post-COVID outpatients are screened for symptoms in different organ systems with a standardized medical history, clinical examination, various questionnaires as well as physical and cardiopulmonary function tests. In addition, biomaterials are collected for the analysis of immunomodulators, cytokines, chemokines, proteome patterns as well as specific (auto)antibodies. Patients are treated according to their individual needs, adhering to the current standard of care. PoCoRe’s overall aim is to optimize diagnostics and therapy in PCS patients.

Effect of lactoferrin treatment on symptoms and physical performance in long COVID patients: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

“…Fatigue is the most frequently described long-COVID symptom among our patients and in the literature (28). A recent longitudinal study showed a natural decrease in fatigue symptoms between 6 weeks and 6 months after acute infection (29). The FAS score in our study improved in both groups during the period of the study without a significant difference between the study arms at T6.…”

Longitudinal Clinical Features of Post-COVID-19 Patients—Symptoms, Fatigue and Physical Function at 3- and 6-Month Follow-Up

“…Follow-up appointments were scheduled at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Recently, the study design and protocol were published [ 34 ]. Here we present the clinical symptoms as well as the outcomes of parts of the assessments.…”

“…Here we present the clinical symptoms as well as the outcomes of parts of the assessments. A detailed description of these assessments and methods is provided elsewhere [ 34 ].…”

“…Patients of a post-COVID- 19 rehabilitation outpatient clinic in Greifswald, Germany, were recruited for this interdisciplinary study, the Greifswald PCS Rehabilitation Study and Research (PoCoRe) [ 34 ], since April 2021 ( Figure 1 ).…”

“…We here present the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale (PCFS), Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12), COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and the Median COVID Recovery Score (MCRS), which includes the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and International Trauma Questionnaire part 1 (ITQ-1), assessing anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorders. With the exception of the MRCS, these questionnaires are all validated and have been used in other PCS study projects [ 34 ]. The questionnaires were completed by the patients during the waiting time before the consultation.…”