The Long COVID Clinic at University of Utah Health is embarking on its third year, helping more than 3,100 patients from Utah and surrounding states with prolonged symptoms of COVID-19.
The Long COVID Clinic opened in July 2021 to help coordinate care for patients and connect them with physicians and practitioners in over 10 specialties across U of U Health. Since that time, the number of sub-specialties in the clinic has more than doubled. Some of the most common include pulmonary, neurology, and psychiatry.
Long COVID impacts one in five adults and can affect anyone who has experienced mild, moderate, and severe cases of COVID-19. At the clinic located at University of Utah Hospital, some of the data gathered about long COVID patients include:
- 67% of patients are female
- 49% are from rural and underserved areas experiencing health disparities
- The average age of patients is between 26 and 62, with a median age of 46
- 40% of patients are working reduced hours, while 20% are unable to work
- Patients are seen across the state of Utah and neighboring states including Idaho, Nevada, Montana, and Wyoming
“Long COVID has had a huge community impact,” says Jeanette Brown, MD, director of the Long COVID Clinic at U of U Health. “Patients are unable to care for their families or go to work. We’re looking at these symptoms and saying what can we really do to help these people.”
Care and Treatment
There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to treating long COVID patients. The impacts from the virus are so widespread that as many as 50 symptoms have been identified. Some of the most common include:
- Fatigue
- Muscle/body aches
- Difficulty concentrating (brain fog)
- Inability to exercise
- Headache
- Difficulty sleeping
- Anxiety
- Memory problems
- Dizziness
“What has been one of the most challenging aspects about treating those with long COVID is that each patient has a unique set of symptoms,” Brown says.
Additionally, there is no diagnostic test that can provide a definitive answer.
“One of the lessons we have learned from COVID-19 is to listen to your patients and to tailor their treatments to their needs,” Brown says. “We really have to think broadly about every patient to find the right support and care.”
To help provide comprehensive care, each patient has an initial one-hour visit to go over symptoms. Patients will then be referred to different specialists to either help them manage or overcome their symptoms.
Thanks to efforts from Representative Melissa Ballard, patients who are uninsured, underinsured, or out of network can be helped and treated at the Long COVID Clinic.
The Future of Long COVID
Three years later, the clinic continues to see new patients. Oftentimes, patients come back to the clinic after a relapse in their symptoms when re-infected by COVID-19 or another viral illness.
“We’re learning as we go; medicine is often an applied science,” Brown says. “This can impact a patient for a long time.”
U of U Health works collaboratively with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Together, they are sharing data to better understand how long COVID impacts Utahns and better help those who are suffering through life-altering symptoms.
University of Utah is also involved in COVID-19 research. Patients who come to the clinic may be eligible to participate in important research that can deepen the understanding of COVID-19 and its impacts.
Previous research from the clinic has investigated the risk of long COVID for people who get COVID-19 while pregnant. Current research is looking into how people with long COVID can best pace themselves to avoid extreme fatigue, and how patients might use wearable devices like smart watches to no push themselves too hard.
HOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR LONG COVID TREATMENT
A referral from a primary care physician or other provider is required for patients to be seen in the clinic. Providers may call 801-213-0884 or send a fax to 801-213-1147 for patient referrals. All referrals must include the patient's post-COVID symptoms that need to be evaluated.