The legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic for the healthcare environment: the establishment of long COVID/ Post-COVID-19 condition follow-up outpatient clinics in Germany.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Since 2020, several specialized follow-up outpatient clinics have been established across Germany to address the complex needs of patients with Long COVID/ Post-COVID-19 Condition (PCC). This article reviews the current landscape of these specialized clinics in Germany and critically evaluates their diagnostic and treatment algorithms.

Methods

This study employed a mixed-method approach, combining publicly available information on post-COVID-19 outpatient clinics with an observational cross-sectional online survey among lead doctors of PCC follow-up outpatient clinics in Germany. The survey was conducted from November 2023 to January 2024. Descriptive statistics and t-tests for group-comparisons were employed, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Resu

SUBMITTER: Adam LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11895281 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature