Over 60.000 patients with Long-Covid syndrome in Cyprus

More than 60.000 patients suffer daily from the Long-Covid syndrome in Cyprus, the Federation of Patient Associations of Cyprus said on Wednesday in a statement, on the occasion of the international information day for the Long-Covid syndrome on March 15.

It calls on the government and the medical and scientific community to recognize that there is an urgent need to promote collaboration and the development of scientifically sound medical protocols, with the aim of improving the quality of life of the large and heterogeneous group of Long-Covid patients

As reported by OSAK, during the international information day for the Long-Covid syndrome, the organized networks of patients worldwide seek to inform the community and also the authorities of the states about this new situation caused by the pandemic and which is already suffering millions of people internationally, limiting, in some cases to a large extent, their family, social and professional life.

According to the World Health Organization, the announcement continues, a percentage ranging between 10%-20% of people infected with the coronavirus, then show long-term symptoms of the Long-Covid syndrome, which means that already around 70 million people worldwide suffer daily from the consequences of the corona virus, with this number in Cyprus estimated to reach 60.000 and perhaps even exceed 100.000.

It is noted that the term Long-Covid includes different clinical conditions of varying severity, such as intense fatigue and/or shortness of breath, orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, disorders from the nervous system with a characteristic inability to concentrate and a significant limitation in the ability to perform complex mental functions as well as memory loss, hair loss , myalgias, menstrual disorders etc.

It is added that it is important that the prolonged symptoms for a period of up to and beyond two years (based on the data recorded internationally to date) is a characteristic that is not usually manifested in other infections but seems to be located in the possible consequences of the person's infection with coronavirus.

It is also underlined the fact that this particular syndrome does not only occur in people who presented severe symptoms during their illness from the coronavirus, but also in people who presented mild or even no symptoms, which is why among the patients with Long-Covid there are also millions in the world, thousands in Cyprus, young people.

Three years after the appearance of the coronavirus and with the Long-Covid syndrome still being monitored by the international scientific community in order to accurately record its characteristics and find appropriate treatments, the Long-Covid networks internationally are making an effort to inform citizens and states about the needs of this new group of patients, its particularities and the fact that possible treatments have not yet been defined to deal with the prolonged symptoms left behind by COVID-19, emphasizes the Federation of Patient Associations.

He adds that Long-Covid patients in many cases experience intimidation and ridicule since although the WHO has already given the official definition of the syndrome, several states have not yet implemented practices or even policies to provide facilities to patients with the greatest gap to located in the field of work.

As mentioned, the Long-Covid Cyprus network which was created and operates under the Cyprus Patient Association Federation, after carefully recording reports from its members and from the findings of its partner doctors, has proceeded with a series of actions aimed at informing of both society and the State around the issues concerning the Long-Covid situation

It is added that in Cyprus, scientists of different specialties have prepared and will be released within the next few days special manuals concerning the Long-Covid syndrome, the diet that patients could follow in order to manage the symptoms that afflict them and the way to which patients must be treated at their workplace, while the fact that the manual concerning the field of work has been issued with the cooperation of the Federation of Employers and Industrialists is of great importance.

The "Long - Covid Cyprus" network, on the occasion of today, calls on the government and the medical and scientific community to recognize that there is an urgent need to promote cooperation and the development of scientifically sound medical protocols, with the aim of improving the quality of life of of a large and heterogeneous group of Long-Covid patients, the announcement concludes.

Source: KYPE