@article {Taylorclinmed.2021-0037, author = {Rebecca R Taylor and Bhavi Trivedi and Neena Patel and Richa Singh and William M Ricketts and Katharine Elliott and Marcus Yarwood and Veronica White and Hannah Hylton and Ruth Allen and Gavin Thomas and Vikas Kapil and Rachel McGuckin and Paul E Pfeffer}, title = {Post-COVID symptoms reported at asynchronous virtual review and stratified follow-up after COVID-19 pneumonia}, elocation-id = {clinmed.2021-0037}, year = {2021}, doi = {10.7861/clinmed.2021-0037}, publisher = {Royal College of Physicians}, abstract = {Background The COVID-19 pandemic has strained healthcare systems and how best to address post-COVID health needs is uncertain. Here we describe the post-COVID symptoms of 675 patients followed up using a virtual review pathway, stratified by severity of acute COVID infection.Methods COVID-19 survivors completed an online/telephone questionnaire of symptoms after 12+ weeks and a chest radiograph. Dependent on findings at virtual review, patients were provided information leaflets, attended for investigations and/or were reviewed face-to-face. Outcomes were compared between patients following high-risk and low-risk admissions for COVID pneumonia, and community referrals.Results Patients reviewed after hospitalisation for COVID pneumonia had a median of two ongoing physical health symptoms post-COVID. The most common was fatigue (50.3\% of high-risk patients). Symptom burden did not vary significantly by severity of hospitalised COVID pneumonia but was highest in community referrals. Symptoms suggestive of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder were common (depression occurred in 24.9\% of high-risk patients). Asynchronous virtual review facilitated triage of patients at highest need of face-to-face review.Conclusion Many patients continue to have a significant burden of post-COVID symptoms irrespective of severity of initial pneumonia. How best to assess and manage long COVID will be of major importance over the next few years.}, issn = {1470-2118}, URL = {https://www.rcpjournals.org/content/early/2021/06/02/clinmed.2021-0037}, eprint = {https://www.rcpjournals.org/content/early/2021/06/02/clinmed.2021-0037.full.pdf}, journal = {Clinical Medicine} }