Instrument to support diagnosis, severity assessment, management and follow-up of post-viral syndromes in general practice (POSH)

About

Status:

Ongoing

Principal investigator:

Attila Altiner

Country:

Germany

Study start:

2024-07

Completion (planned):

2027-06

Last update:

2024-12-11

Research types:

Epidemiological research

Research areas:

General

Interventions:

Not applicable

Priv. Sector Partner:

Not available

Sponsors:

Federal Joint Committee (G-BA)

Links

Project website

Other website

Project description

Viral infections can have long-term effects, which are known in technical terms as "post-viral syndrome" and include a variety of possible symptoms. More and more diseases are temporally related to a viral infection. These include infections with SARS-CoV-2 and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), but also dengue, chikungunya and West Nile virus. post-COVID syndrome (PCS) is one of those post-viral syndromes. A subgroup of those affected develops ME/CFS. The diagnosis of this complex disease is currently based on criteria and excluding other diseases.

The aim of the POSH project team is to develop an optimised instrument based on scientific data that supports general practitioners in the diagnosis and treatment of post-viral syndromes. It will consist of two parts: One part will support the general practitioner in diagnosing post-viral syndromes and assessing their severity, the other part will identify aspects that are important for treatment and disease progression. In developing the procedure, overviews of the existing scientific findings will be generated. The perspectives of those affected, caregivers and experts will also be included. In addition, findings from the evaluation of data from PCS patients from the post-COVID outpatient clinic at University Clinic Heidelberg will be integrated. An expert panel of people affected as well caregivers will carry out a rating of the processed data in two rounds. The result will be instrument described above. The effectiveness of the instrument/procedure will be tested by 50 trained general practitioners on 300 patients, half of whom will have symptoms of a post-viral syndrome and the other half will serve as a control group.

If successful, the instrument developed in the project will help support doctors in their diagnostic and treatment decisions, close care deficits and improve the quality of life of those affected. The project will be funded for three years with a total of around 1.2 million euros.

(Description adapted from project website: see link above)