Longitudinal Evaluation of an Integrated Post–COVID-19/Long COVID Management Program Consisting of Digital Interventions and Personal Support: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

Abstract

The postacute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) can be addressed with multidisciplinary approaches, including professional support and digital interventions.

This research aimed to test whether patients who received a health care facilitation program including medical internet support from human personal pilots and digital interventions (intervention group [IG] and active control group [ACG]) would experience fewer symptoms and have higher work ability and social participation than an untreated comparison group (CompG). The second objective was to compare the impact of a diagnostic assessment and digital interventions tailored to patients’ personal capacity (IG) with that of only personal support and digital interventions targeting the main symptoms (ACG).

In total, 1020 patients with PACS were recruited. Using a randomized controlled trial design between the IG and the ACG, as well as propensity score matching to include the CompG, analyses were run with logistic regression and hierarchical-linear models.

Symptoms decreased significantly in all groups over time (βT1-T2=0.13, <i>t</i>₅₄₉=5.67, <i>P</i>&lt;.001; βT2-T4=0.06, <i>t</i>₅₄₉=2.83, <i>P</i>=.01), with a main effect of the group (β=–.15, <i>t</i>₅₄₉=–2.65, <i>P</i>=.01) and a more pronounced effect in the IG and ACG compared to the CompG (between groups: βT1-T2=0.14, <i>t</i>₅₄₉=4.31, <i>P</i>&lt;.001; βT2-T4=0.14, <i>t</i>₅₄₉=4.57, <i>P</i>&lt;.001). Work ability and social participation were lower in the CompG, but there was no significant interaction effect. There were no group differences between the IG and the ACG.

Empowerment through personal pilots and digital interventions reduces symptoms but does not increase work ability and social participation. More longitudinal research is needed to evaluate the effects of a diagnostic assessment. Social support and digital interventions should be incorporated to facilitate health care interventions for PACS.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05238415; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05238415.

RR2-10.1186/s12879-022-07584-z