[Post-COVID: An inventory focusing on the key complaints PEM and POTS].

BACKGROUND

More than five years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, its long-term effects are increasingly coming into focus. Post-COVID disease poses a significant challenge, - not only for the individuals affected, but also for healthcare providers and society as a whole. In order to improve care for post-COVID patients, the current state of research should be reviewed and the frequent and characteristic complaints post-exertional malaise and postural tachycardia syndrome should be presented.

METHOD: The literature search for this narrative review was conducted in the PubMed and Semantic Scholar databases.

RESULTS

Post-COVID symptoms are often nonspecific, diverse, and fluctuating. However, post-exertional malaise and postural tachycardia syndrome are characteristic of post-COVID when they occur newly after COVID-19 disease. Post-exertional malaise is an intensification of symptoms after exertion that occurs in about 86% of post-COVID patients. Pacing is a promising treatment approach here. Postural tachycardia syndrome manifests as autonomic, tachycardic, orthostatic dysregulation and affects up to 82% of post-COVID patients. Symptomatic therapy includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Post-exertional malaise and postural tachycardia syndrome are typical and characteristic post-COVID symptoms. Current scientific findings underscore the SARS-CoV-2-related organic origin of post-COVID symptoms.