Towards consensus: The need for standardised definitions in Long (post) COVID care in 34 European countries
Gomez-Bravo, Raquel ; León-Herrera, Sandra (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Guisado-Clavero, Marina ; Gefaell, Ileana ; Wostmann, Xenia ; Wössner, Nathalie ; Vinker, Shlomo ; Vassallo La Ferla, Francesca ; Kirkoç Üçüncü, Erva ; Tsigarovski, Georgi ; Torzsa, Péter ; Suija, Kadri ; Stepanovic, Aleksander ; Sentker, Theresa ; Segernäs, Anna ; Seifert, Bohumil ; Sánchez-Castro, Marta ; Schneider, Jochen G. ; Repovská, Anna ; Petrazzuoli, Ferdinando ; Petek, Davorina ; Perjes, Abel ; Parodi López, Naldy ; Neves, Ana Luisa ; Nessler, Katarzyna ; Muris, Jean ; Mortsiefer, Achim ; Moreels, Sarah ; Meister, Tatjana ; Mäntyselkä, Pekka ; Murauskiene, Liubove ; Lingner, Heidrun ; Krzton-Królewiecka, Anna ; Kostic, Milena ; Çimen Korkmaz, Büsra ; Knezevic, Snezana ; Kazakos, Stylianos ; Karathanos, Vasilis ; Shushman, Ivanna ; Ilkov, Oksana ; Hoffmann, Kathryn ; Heleno, Bruno ; Hanževacki, Miroslav ; Gjorgjievski, Dragan ; Frese, Thomas ; Fournier, Marta ; Fitzgerald, Louise ; Feldmane, Sabine ; Dotsenko, Marina ; Domeyer, Philip-Richard ; Croucher, Daniel ; Cerny, Vojtech ; Burgers, Jako S. ; Brutskaya-Stempkovskaya, Elena ; Busneag, Carmen Iliana ; Buono, Nicola ; Bensemmane, Sherihane ; Bayen, Sabine ; Bakola, Maria ; Assenova, Radost ; Adler, Limor ; Ares-Blanco, Sara ; Astier Peña, María Pilar (Universidad de Zaragoza)
Resumen: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global healthcare systems, leading to challenges in managing Long COVID. Variations in definitions and diagnostic criteria across Europe hinder recognition and treatment efforts. This study aims to analyse and compare the definitions of Long COVID used in 34 European countries.
Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted involving key informants from 34 European countries, utilising an online questionnaire to gather data on Long COVID definitions. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were employed to assess the variability of definitions and challenges in managing Long COVID.
Results: The study found significant variation in Long COVID definitions among the participating countries; the most frequent definition was the other definition (n: 17, 50.0%), followed by the World Health Organisation’s definition (n: 16, 47.0%) and the CDC definition (n: 11, 32.3%). Half of the countries reported using multiple definitions simultaneously, indicating a lack of standardisation. Qualitative analyses highlighted challenges such as difficulties in standardising terminology, variability in clinical criteria, and issues with implementing diagnostic codes.
Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for a unified, yet adaptable, definition of Long COVID. Such a definition would support general practitioners (GPs) by simplifying diagnostic processes, improving continuity of care, and facilitating equitable patient access to multidisciplinary resources. The current lack of consensus complicates patient care, data collection, and resource allocation, impacting health policy development. Future efforts should focus on achieving agreement on definitions to ensure equitable treatment and effective healthcare responses to Long COVID.
Idioma: Inglés
DOI: 10.1080/13814788.2025.2535618
Año: 2025
Publicado en: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE 31, 1 (2025), [13 pp.]
ISSN: 1381-4788
Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)
Área (Departamento): Área Psicología Social (Dpto. Psicología y Sociología)
Área (Departamento): Area Medicina (Dpto. Medicina, Psiqu. y Derm.)
You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
Exportado de SIDERAL (2025-10-17-14:35:06)
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Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted involving key informants from 34 European countries, utilising an online questionnaire to gather data on Long COVID definitions. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were employed to assess the variability of definitions and challenges in managing Long COVID.
Results: The study found significant variation in Long COVID definitions among the participating countries; the most frequent definition was the other definition (n: 17, 50.0%), followed by the World Health Organisation’s definition (n: 16, 47.0%) and the CDC definition (n: 11, 32.3%). Half of the countries reported using multiple definitions simultaneously, indicating a lack of standardisation. Qualitative analyses highlighted challenges such as difficulties in standardising terminology, variability in clinical criteria, and issues with implementing diagnostic codes.
Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for a unified, yet adaptable, definition of Long COVID. Such a definition would support general practitioners (GPs) by simplifying diagnostic processes, improving continuity of care, and facilitating equitable patient access to multidisciplinary resources. The current lack of consensus complicates patient care, data collection, and resource allocation, impacting health policy development. Future efforts should focus on achieving agreement on definitions to ensure equitable treatment and effective healthcare responses to Long COVID.
Idioma: Inglés
DOI: 10.1080/13814788.2025.2535618
Año: 2025
Publicado en: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE 31, 1 (2025), [13 pp.]
ISSN: 1381-4788
Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)
Área (Departamento): Área Psicología Social (Dpto. Psicología y Sociología)
Área (Departamento): Area Medicina (Dpto. Medicina, Psiqu. y Derm.)
You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. You may not use the material for commercial purposes. Exportado de SIDERAL (2025-10-17-14:35:06)
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Record created 2025-09-19, last modified 2025-10-17