Assessing healthcare for patients with post-acute infection syndromes like ME/CFS (Care4PAIS&ME/CFS)

Project description

This study, funded by the WE&ME Foundation and conducted by the Medical University of Vienna, Department of Primary Care Medicine (Univ.-Prof. PD Dr. Kathryn Hoffmann, MPH and Dr. med. Golda Schlaff), in collaboration with the University of Vienna, Institute of Mathematics (Univ.-Prof. Dr. Joachim Hermisson), and the Austrian Society for ME/CFS (representing the ÖG ME/CFS: Mag. Sandra Leiss), is groundbreaking for understanding and improving the medical pathway of patients suffering from post-acute infectious syndromes (PAIS), such as ME/CFS or post-COVID. Using an advanced, patient-centered online questionnaire, the study examines with great depth and precision the spectrum of specific PAIS syndromes, such as: B. post-exertional malaise, autonomic dysfunction, mast cell overactivity or cognitive dysfunction (instead of single, random symptoms that are usually collected in other PAIS and Long Covid studies) and then compare these with the described symptoms, diagnostics and therapy attempts. In addition, the study aims to evaluate these syndromes and symptoms in the context of the Canadian Consensus Criteria (CCC) for ME/CFS. This research is crucial for promoting a deeper understanding and developing effective diagnostic pathways and interventions that are directly tailored to the specific syndromes and symptoms of PAIS and ME/CFS patients.