TY - JOUR
T1 - Towards consensus
T2 - The need for standardised definitions in Long (post) COVID care in 34 European countries
AU - Gomez-Bravo, Raquel
AU - León-Herrera, Sandra
AU - Guisado-Clavero, Marina
AU - Gefaell, Ileana
AU - Wostmann, Xenia
AU - Wössner, Nathalie
AU - Vinker, Shlomo
AU - Vassallo La Ferla, Francesca
AU - Kırkoç Üçüncü, Erva
AU - Tsigarovski, Georgi
AU - Torzsa, Péter
AU - Suija, Kadri
AU - Stepanović, Aleksander
AU - Sentker, Theresa
AU - Segernäs, Anna
AU - Seifert, Bohumil
AU - Sánchez-Castro, Marta
AU - Schneider, Jochen G.
AU - Repovská, Anna
AU - Petrazzuoli, Ferdinando
AU - Petek, Davorina
AU - Perjes, Abel
AU - Parodi López, Naldy
AU - Neves, Ana Luisa
AU - Nessler, Katarzyna
AU - Muris, Jean
AU - Mortsiefer, Achim
AU - Moreels, Sarah
AU - Meister, Tatjana
AU - Mäntyselkä, Pekka
AU - Murauskienė, Liubovė
AU - Lingner, Heidrun
AU - Krztoń-Królewiecka, Anna
AU - Kostic, Milena
AU - Çimen Korkmaz, Büsra
AU - Knezevic, Snezana
AU - Kazakos, Stylianos
AU - Karathanos, Vasilis
AU - Shushman, Ivanna
AU - Ilkov, Oksana
AU - Hoffmann, Kathryn
AU - Heleno, Bruno
AU - Hanževački, Miroslav
AU - Gjorgjievski, Dragan
AU - Frese, Thomas
AU - Fournier, Marta
AU - Fitzgerald, Louise
AU - Feldmane, Sabīne
AU - Dotsenko, Marina
AU - Domeyer, Philip Richard
AU - Croucher, Daniel
AU - Cerny, Vojtech
AU - Burgers, Jako S.
AU - Brutskaya-Stempkovskaya, Elena
AU - Busneag, Carmen Iliana
AU - Buono, Nicola
AU - Bensemmane, Sherihane
AU - Bayen, Sabine
AU - Bakola, Maria
AU - Assenova, Radost
AU - Adler, Limor
AU - Ares-Blanco, Sara
AU - Astier Peña, María Pilar
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global healthcare systems, leading to challenges in managing Long COVID. Variations in definitions and diagnostic criteria across Europe hinder recognition and treatment efforts. This study aims to analyse and compare the definitions of Long COVID used in 34 European countries. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted involving key informants from 34 European countries, utilising an online questionnaire to gather data on Long COVID definitions. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were employed to assess the variability of definitions and challenges in managing Long COVID. Results: The study found significant variation in Long COVID definitions among the participating countries; the most frequent definition was the other definition (n: 17, 50.0%), followed by the World Health Organisation’s definition (n: 16, 47.0%) and the CDC definition (n: 11, 32.3%). Half of the countries reported using multiple definitions simultaneously, indicating a lack of standardisation. Qualitative analyses highlighted challenges such as difficulties in standardising terminology, variability in clinical criteria, and issues with implementing diagnostic codes. Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for a unified, yet adaptable, definition of Long COVID. Such a definition would support general practitioners (GPs) by simplifying diagnostic processes, improving continuity of care, and facilitating equitable patient access to multidisciplinary resources. The current lack of consensus complicates patient care, data collection, and resource allocation, impacting health policy development. Future efforts should focus on achieving agreement on definitions to ensure equitable treatment and effective healthcare responses to Long COVID.
AB - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global healthcare systems, leading to challenges in managing Long COVID. Variations in definitions and diagnostic criteria across Europe hinder recognition and treatment efforts. This study aims to analyse and compare the definitions of Long COVID used in 34 European countries. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted involving key informants from 34 European countries, utilising an online questionnaire to gather data on Long COVID definitions. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were employed to assess the variability of definitions and challenges in managing Long COVID. Results: The study found significant variation in Long COVID definitions among the participating countries; the most frequent definition was the other definition (n: 17, 50.0%), followed by the World Health Organisation’s definition (n: 16, 47.0%) and the CDC definition (n: 11, 32.3%). Half of the countries reported using multiple definitions simultaneously, indicating a lack of standardisation. Qualitative analyses highlighted challenges such as difficulties in standardising terminology, variability in clinical criteria, and issues with implementing diagnostic codes. Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for a unified, yet adaptable, definition of Long COVID. Such a definition would support general practitioners (GPs) by simplifying diagnostic processes, improving continuity of care, and facilitating equitable patient access to multidisciplinary resources. The current lack of consensus complicates patient care, data collection, and resource allocation, impacting health policy development. Future efforts should focus on achieving agreement on definitions to ensure equitable treatment and effective healthcare responses to Long COVID.
KW - clinical coding
KW - COVID-19
KW - diagnosis
KW - Europe
KW - post-acute COVID-19 syndrome
KW - Primary health care
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105015083193
U2 - 10.1080/13814788.2025.2535618
DO - 10.1080/13814788.2025.2535618
M3 - Article
C2 - 40889165
AN - SCOPUS:105015083193
SN - 1381-4788
VL - 31
JO - European Journal of General Practice
JF - European Journal of General Practice
IS - 1
M1 - 2535618
ER -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being