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A special issue of Journal of Personalized Medicine (ISSN 2075-4426). This special issue belongs to the section "Personalized Therapy and Drug Delivery".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2024) | Viewed by 9819

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Dr. Paraskevi Katsaounou

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1. Pulmonary Dept of First ICU Clinic, Evangelismos Hospital, 10676 Athens, Greece
2. School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10561 Athens, Greece
Interests: infections; COVID-19; smoking cessation; asthma; ergospirometry
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID pandemic has been followed by a second pandemic caused by significant COVID complications. According to the last WHO declaration, long COVID is defined as the continuation or development of new symptoms three months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, with these symptoms lasting for at least 2 months with no other explanation. Long COVID can affect anyone exposed to SARS-CoV-2, regardless of age or the severity of the original symptoms. While common symptoms of long COVID can include fatigue, shortness of breath and cognitive dysfunction, over 200 different symptoms have been reported that can have an impact on everyday functioning.

Long COVID occurs in 10–20% of people infected by SARS-CoV-2. More than 200 symptoms have been reported, with impacts on multiple organ systems. At least 65 million individuals worldwide are estimated to have long COVID, with cases increasing daily. Progress has been made in identifying the pathophysiological mechanisms of long COVID, but much research is still needed in the field. This Special Issue seeks research papers on various aspects related to the emerging topic of long COVID such as key findings, overlap with other conditions, onset of symptoms, impact of vaccinations, diagnostic plans, pharmaceutical approaches and rehabilitation programs. Long COVID public health impacts and patient organisations are also within the scope of this issue, as it is important to engage patients throughout the research process.

We especially encourage the submission of interdisciplinary works and multi-country collaborative research. We welcome submissions of original research papers using different study designs and critical and relevant reviews, including systematic reviews.

Dr. Paraskevi Katsaounou
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Personalized Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

long COVID
fatigue
post COVID
dyspnea
cognitive dysfunction

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14 pages, 738 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Insulin Resistance in Long COVID-19 Syndrome

by Dana Emilia Man, Minodora Andor, Valentina Buda, Nilima Rajpal Kundnani, Daniel Marius Duda-Seiman, Laura Maria Craciun, Marioara Nicula Neagu, Iulia-Stefania Carlogea and Simona-Ruxanda Dragan

J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(9), 911; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14090911 - 28 Aug 2024

Viewed by 4045

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe health issues worldwide and contributed to huge financial losses. Key comorbidities linked to an increased risk of severe COVID-19 and higher mortality rates include cardio-metabolic disorders such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM), atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, heart failure, and obesity. The persistence of symptoms even after the acute phase is over is termed long COVID-19 syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between long COVID-19 syndrome and the development of insulin resistance in previously non-diabetic patients. Methods: A prospective observational study was performed on 143 non-diabetic patients who had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection by a PCR test and were hospitalized in our hospital between January 2020 and December 2022. The clinical and para-clinical data at 0, 4, and 12 months of hospital admission for post-COVID-19 infection follow-up was collected and labeled as t0, t4, and t12. Blood glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels were measured at the beginning and further at 2, 5, 10, and 30 min after the intravenous arginine stimulation test. Similarly, BMI was calculated, and hs-CRP and ESR levels were noted. The results obtained were statistically analyzed. Results: More than one-third (30.7%) of the included patients developed long COVID-19 syndrome. It was found that 75% of patients with long COVID-19 hospitalized in our clinic developed diabetes within a year of acute infection with COVID-19; therefore, it can be said that the presence of long COVID-19 is a major risk for an altered metabolic status, which can cause diabetes. When comparing the glycemia levels (106 mg/dL) with the BMI at t0, t4, and t12 time intervals, the p-values were found to be 0.214, 0.042, and 0.058, respectively. Almost 62% of the patients having BMI > 30 kg/m² were found to have an increase in blood glucose levels at 1 year. Similarly, insulin resistance was noted during this interval. A negative correlation of 0.40 for hsCRP and 0.38 for ESR was noted when compared with acute infection with COVID-19. Conclusions: The association between long COVID-19 and insulin resistance highlights the varied and widespread impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Addressing the complexities of long COVID-19 requires a holistic strategy that encompasses both respiratory and metabolic considerations, which is crucial for enhancing the well-being of those enduring this persistent condition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine for Post COVID and Long COVID)

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13 pages, 611 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Symptom Clusters in Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Long COVID Fatigue in Male and Female Outpatients

by Vincenza Leone, Dennis Freuer, Yvonne Goßlau, Inge Kirchberger, Tobias Warm, Alexander Hyhlik-Dürr, Christine Meisinger and Jakob Linseisen

J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(6), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14060602 - 5 Jun 2024

Viewed by 903

Abstract

(1) Background: After an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, patients are at risk of developing Long COVID, with fatigue as a frequent and serious health problem. Objectives: To identify symptom clusters in acute SARS-CoV-2 infections and investigate their associations with the development of Long COVID fatigue, and to examine sex-specific differences. (2) Methods: The analysis included a total of 450 COVID-19 outpatients, of whom 54.4% were female. The median ages of the men and women were 51 years (IQR 36.0; 60.0) and 48 years (IQR 33.0; 57.0), respectively. Data collection took place between November 2020 and May 2021, with a median time between acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and examination in the study center of 240 days (IQR 133; 326). The Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) was used to identify fatigue and its severity. A multiple correspondence analysis was used to group forty-two COVID-19 symptoms into seven symptom clusters. Logistic and log-linear regressions were used to investigate associations between acute symptom clusters and Long COVID fatigue as dichotomous and continuous outcome, respectively. (3) Results: Fatigue occurred more frequently in women than in men (45% vs. 25%) and the median FAS score, indicating severity of fatigue, was higher in women than in men. The comparison between men and women revealed notable differences in four out of seven clusters. The strongest associations between symptom clusters in infection and Long COVID fatigue were identified for the cluster “cognitive and mental symptoms”. In the log-linear regression model, each additional symptom in this cluster was associated with an increase of the FAS score by 5.13% (95% CI: [0.04; 0.07]; p < 0.001). The results of the logistic regression models supported this finding. Each additional symptom in this symptom cluster increased the odds of fatigue by 42% (95% CI: [1.23; 1.66]; p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: In our study in COVID-19 outpatients, a strong association was observed between the number of symptoms in the cluster “cognitive and mental symptoms” during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and the risk of developing fatigue months later. The consequent use of preventive and therapeutic strategies is necessary to decrease the burden of fatigue in the context of Long COVID. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine for Post COVID and Long COVID)

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11 pages, 282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Dyspnoea, Physical Activity, and Back Pain Levels in Students at Medical Universities after the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland

by Monika Gałczyk, Anna Zalewska and Marek Sobolewski

J. Pers. Med. 2023, 13(10), 1474; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm13101474 - 8 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1215

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to assess the extent of dyspnoea, physical activity (PA), and back pain complaints and the association of dyspnoea, PA, and back pain complaints with PA in post-COVID-19 students at medical universities in Poland. Methods: An online survey was carried out among Polish medical students (213 women and 204 men) who had had a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 within the last year. The Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea scale was used to assess the degree of dyspnoea. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to determine the level of PA. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) were used to assess back discomfort. Results: The study group had average levels of PA, with median total activity significantly lower in women (median total activity for women was 1189 and for men was 2044, while the standard deviation for women was 1419 and for men was 1450). More than 93% of the students reported no symptoms of dyspnoea. The following results were observed for ODI (median of 1.2 for women and 1.7 for men and standard deviation of 3.1 for women and 4.0 for men) and for NDI (median of 2.8 for women and 2.5 for men, standard deviation of 4.3 for women and 4.0 for men). Cervical spine pain was more frequent and severe. There are small, statistically significant correlations between the MRC and IPAQ measures and the ODI and NDI and IPAQ. Conclusions: In the study group of students of medicine, dyspnoea linked with a history of COVID-19 is not an issue. Post-pandemic PA levels should be increased in this group, with particular attention to female students. Urgent measures are also needed to prevent cervical pain in students at medical universities in Poland. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine for Post COVID and Long COVID)

10 pages, 278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fatigue and Physical Activity in People after COVID-19 in Poland

by Anna Zalewska and Monika Gałczyk

J. Pers. Med. 2023, 13(9), 1369; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm13091369 - 11 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1101

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to look at the amount of fatigue and physical activity (PA) in individuals after COVID-19 in Poland and the correlation between fatigue and PA. Methods: The online research was carried out among adult Polish residents (122 women and 82 men) who had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the previous year. The level of fatigue was measured using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). The PA level was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results: A total of 46.6% of the subjects had been ill with COVID-19 for more than 6 months before the time of the survey response. The MFIS total measure is 77 of the maximum score, and the median is 17. A total of 26% of respondents reported low activity, while 41% of respondents reported high activity. A statistically significant negative relationship was found between PA level and total fatigue score. The best scores for fatigue and PA were obtained by the subjects with mild COVID-19. The time since diagnosis (as opposed to older age and female sex) was not clearly associated with most measures. Conclusions: PA may play an important role in regulating the severity of fatigue; it should be increased, especially in patients after COVID. Further studies are also needed to investigate the mechanism of differences in fatigue and PA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine for Post COVID and Long COVID)

14 pages, 1357 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Persistent Endothelial Lung Damage and Impaired Diffusion Capacity in Long COVID

by Andreas T. Asimakos, Alice G. Vassiliou, Chrysi Keskinidou, Stavroula Spetsioti, Archontoula Antonoglou, Charikleia S. Vrettou, Panagiotis Mourelatos, Aristidis Diamantopoulos, Maria Pratikaki, Nikolaos Athanasiou, Edison Jahaj, Parisis Gallos, Anastasia Kotanidou, Ioanna Dimopoulou, Stylianos E. Orfanos and Paraskevi Katsaounou

J. Pers. Med. 2023, 13(9), 1351; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm13091351 - 31 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1398

Abstract

Since the beginning of the pandemic, both COVID-19-associated coagulopathy biomarkers and a plethora of endothelial biomarkers have been proposed and tested as prognostic tools of severity and mortality prediction. As the pandemic is gradually being controlled, attention is now focusing on the long-term sequelae of COVID-19. In the present study, we investigated the role of endothelial activation/dysfunction in long COVID syndrome. This observational study included 68 consecutive long COVID patients and a healthy age and sex-matched control group. In both groups, we measured 13 endothelial biomarkers. Moreover, in the long COVID patients, we evaluated fatigue and dyspnea severity, lung diffusion capacity (DLCO), and the 6-min walk (6MWT) test as measures of functional capacity. Our results showed that markers of endothelial activation/dysfunction were higher in long COVID patients, and that soluble intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1) negatively correlated with lung diffusion and functional capacity (sICAM-1 vs. DLCO, r = −0.306, p = 0.018; vs. 6MWT, r = −0.263, p = 0.044; and sVCAM-1 vs. DLCO, r= −0.346, p = 0.008; vs. 6MWT, r = −0.504, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, evaluating endothelial biomarkers alongside clinical tests might yield more specific insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of long COVID manifestations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Personalized Medicine for Post COVID and Long COVID)

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