Experts create Canada's first guidelines for diagnosing, preventing and treating Long Covid

Experts create Canada's first guidelines for diagnosing, preventing and treating Long Covid

A team of experts from McMaster University has led the creation of Canada's first comprehensive guidelines for the diagnosis, management, prevention and treatment of post-Covid-19 disease (PCC), more commonly known as Long Covid.

The Canadian Post-CoVID-19 Disease Guidelines (CAN-PCC) provide clear, evidence-based recommendations to educate and assist patients, healthcare professionals and policymakers navigating the relatively new disease. It is estimated that PCC affects more than one million Canadians.
In 2023, McMaster received a $9 million financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada to develop the guidelines in collaboration with people with lived experience of PCC, health professionals, policymakers, and international experts, collectively referred to as the CAN-PCC collaboration.

"These guidelines are intended to provide and provide the best possible care to patients with long Covid. They also empower patients with the information and tools to use for their health and ensure they receive the necessary support and treatment treatment."

The guidelines consist of approximately 100 recommendations on PCC, divided into six key categories:

• Verhütung
• Testen, Identifizierung und Diagnose
• Klinische und nichtklinische Interventionen
• Neurologische und psychiatrische Themen
• Pädiatrische und jugendliche Themen
• Gesundheitssysteme und soziale Unterstützung

The recommendations cover a wide range of important topics addressing the prevention, identification and management of PCC. For example, CAN-PCC proposes using indoor ventilation and air filtration to prevent Covid-19 and therefore PCC, metformin to treat people with PCC and care navigators to support people with PCC. One of the CAN-PCC Collaborative's key challenges was formulating recommendations based on currently available research evidence, most of which was of low certainty, and the guidelines highlight key research priorities.

The creation of Canada's COVID-19 guidelines marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to address the long-term impacts of COVID-19. These guidelines serve as a critical resource to support those living with this condition and the healthcare professionals who provide the care that best meets their needs. “

Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer

The CAN-PCC Collaborative has also developed tools to simplify the guidelines, including summaries, decision aids and resource sheets, and infographics to help Canadians make informed decisions with their health care providers. The recommendations are available in English and French and accompanying tools in a variety of languages.

“The creation of a multidisciplinary team of more than 150 Canadian and international staff, including those with lived experience, who created these guidelines is an achievement that highlights McMaster and Canada.

PCC can infect anyone with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to the World Health Organization, PCC is defined as continued or new symptoms more than 12 weeks after Covid-19 infection.

Long Covid is not a condition limited to people who have experienced serious outcomes from infection with Covid-19. People who experienced a mild case of Covid-19 or were initially asymptomatic could still develop long Covid.

Symptoms can vary, with more than 200 reported in association with PCC, some of the most common being fatigue, shortness of breath and brain fog, which can affect memory, concentration and focus. Symptoms may be persistent or episodic and may worsen depending on the circumstances.

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