Round Table on Long COVID – September 2024

At the Federal Ministry of Health’s (BMG) 4th Round Table on Long COVID, the interaction of the key players from the healthcare sector on the current scientific insights from patient care and research once again took centre stage. The perspectives of the long haulers were also integrated into these insights. 

Research on patient care within the innovation fund 

At the beginning, multiple project leaders presented their care research projects on Long COVID funded by the innovation fund of the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA), which shall commence shortly. These included “KidsCarePVS”, which shall investigate the care needs of children suffering from Long COVID in greater detail and “PAIS Berlin”, which shall analyse the care programmes and treatment paths availed by the long haulers. The “IDV-Post-COVID” project shall investigate the effects on progression of the illness under an inter-disciplinary care as a part of a special outpatient clinic. The “POSH” project was also presented, which shall develop an optimised treatment of Long COVID by family doctors and investigate the effects on the quality of treatment. 

In addition, the format offered the opportunity to exchange ideas on the state of care and potential approaches for improvement. Thus, it was emphasised that the available knowledge on Long COVID must be spread far wider to be able to find application in treatment. The major challenges in the area of school life, for instance, by the lack of participation in classroom lessons, was pointed out among the children and adolescents. 

Scientific insights 

The following discussion reviewed the current scientific insights from research related to Long COVID. The discussion focused on the individual therapy needs and options in various patient groups and different manifestations of Long COVID. The physical as well as potential psychological symptoms of this clinical pattern should be considered in this case. 

The potential causes of Long COVID were also discussed: Malfunctions of the immune system were especially at the focus of this exchange of views. A more detailed understanding of the mechanisms of disease development is necessary to improve diagnosis and therapy. Therefore, a great need for research to accelerate the diagnostic procedure and to be able to develop targeted therapies continues to prevail.

Long COVID Expert Group On Off-Label-Use: Therapy compass 

Prof Bernhard Wörmann, chair of the Long COVID expert group on Off-Label-Use at the Federal Institute for Drug and Medical Devices (BfArM), presents the new “Therapy Compass". This was developed by the Long COVID expert group on Off-Label-Use and simultaneously released for the event on the website of the BfArM. These are therapy recommendations for use of drugs in the permitted indications for treatment of Long COVID associated symptoms. The “Therapy compass” contains an overview of the suitable active ingredients and active ingredient groups with the aim of supporting care of patients with Long COVID and shall give practical recommendations for medical treatment.

Furthermore, the use of drugs not permitted for the treatment of Long COVID was also discussed (so-called “Off-Label-Use”). Prof Wörmann outlined the further approach of the expert group in the evaluation of Off-Label-Therapies.

Outlook

The 4th Round Table underlined the urgency of further improving the care of Long COVID patients and intensifying the research in this area. There is major need for action especially in the treatment of children and adolescents as well as severely affected patients.

In his concluding words, the Federal Health Minister Prof Karl Lauterbach emphasised that Long COVID continues to be of great relevance for the BMG and shall be handled with great priority.