What is the current state of care for people with post-COVID?
A new research project in collaboration with Magdeburg University Hospital is investigating the care provided to people with post-COVID. The project is currently seeking study participants.
Many people who have recovered from a coronavirus infection continue to suffer from physical and mental health issues months later. The collaborative project VIBES – “Care Situation, Care Utilization, and Needs Analysis of Patients with Post-Viral Syndromes Using the Example of Post-COVID”, in collaboration with researchers from Magdeburg University Hospital, is investigating how those affected are currently receiving medical care, what their psychosocial support needs are, and whether there is under-provision, over-provision, or misprovision of care. The research project is seeking individuals with post-COVID symptoms, primary care physicians, and staff from specialized outpatient clinics who are willing to share their experiences.
By May 2024, approximately 39 million SARS-CoV-2 infections had been officially confirmed in Germany. About ten percent of those affected—that is, around 3.9 million people—experience symptoms that persist or emerge weeks or months after the initial infection—for example, persistent fatigue, breathing difficulties, or trouble concentrating. These are referred to as post-COVID syndrome. To date, there are hardly any standardized guidelines on how these individuals should be optimally treated. The VIBES project aims to develop a care model that can be applied nationwide and provides more targeted support to those affected. Findings could also be applied to the long-term effects of other viral infections.
What happens in the study?
In the project, patients are surveyed, for example, on persistent symptoms, their use of therapeutic services, and their satisfaction with treatment. At the same time, the perspective of healthcare providers on the care situation is taken into account by surveying both primary care physicians and staff in specialized outpatient clinics. Additionally, data from statutory health insurance providers is analyzed to obtain as accurate a picture of care as possible. This allows for the identification of where affected individuals receive too little, too much, or the wrong kind of support, and where improvements are needed.
These various methods are intended to present existing care pathways in a detailed and structured manner. In this way, the interdisciplinary research team aims to develop a unified model for needs-based care for people with post-COVID symptoms.
If successful, the project’s results will contribute to a better understanding of the long-term effects of COVID-19 and enable more targeted and needs-based treatment for those affected. Furthermore, insights gained here can also be applied to the long-term effects of other viral infections, thereby improving care in those contexts as well.
Who can participate?
We are seeking individuals with post-COVID symptoms, primary care physicians, and directors of specialized outpatient clinics who are interested in participating in the study to share their experiences with post-COVID care. Information and contact details for interested parties can be found here.
The project is funded by the Innovation Committee of the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) for three years with a total of approximately 1.2 million euros.
Project partners
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, TUM Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Munich (Project Lead)
- University Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg
- Institute for Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg
- Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometry, and Informatics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Further information is available here.
Scientific Contacts
- Dr. med. Christine Allwang, Project Leader and Senior Consultant at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at TUM Klinikum Rechts der Isar, christine.allwang@mri.tum.de
- Prof. Dr. med. Florian Junne, Director of the University Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, kpsm@med.ovgu.de
- Prof. Dr. Christian Apfelbacher, Director of the Institute for Social Medicine and Health Systems Research at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, christian.apfelbacher@med.ovgu.de
- Prof. Dr. med. Rafael Mikolajczyk, Director of the Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometry, and Informatics at the Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, rafael.mikolajczyk@medizin.uni-halle.de
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