The long Covid is a set of varied symptoms, which last more than three months after infection.
This disease, very disabling, would affect around 700,000 French people.
But epidemiological studies should refine these figures.
The roadmap announced on Thursday by the ministry should improve access to care for these patients, who are often faced with the lack of knowledge of caregivers in the face of a complex and new disease.
"Now we know it's a reality, it's clinically recognized," says Pauline Oustric, president of the After J20 patient association.
After months of struggle and many doubts, patients with long Covid should welcome this announcement with attention.
Because for some people who have been infected for many months, anosmia, intense fatigue, memory and concentration problems still last...
The Ministry of Health is launching a roadmap on the long Covid this Thursday.
With the aim of improving access to care for these patients, but also to invest in research while a lot of questions surround this new and complex disease.
A problem of definition
“It's more of a syndrome than a disease,” explains the Ministry of Health.
With a myriad of symptoms: intense fatigue, dysfunction of the neurological system, cognitive disorders, respiratory difficulties, sensory disorders (persistent anosmia, buzzing, dizziness).
There is also a question of duration to complete this definition.
The acute phase of Covid-19 lasts between two and three weeks.
For some, the symptoms persist for more than a month, but the "real long Covid" lasts for more than three months.
There is a difficulty: the question of accountability.
It is therefore necessary to document the link between the infection and the resulting symptoms.
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10% of infected people would have long Covid
How many French people are affected by a long Covid today?
“The studies are difficult to carry out because of the complex definition and the imputability of the disease to the virus, continues the minister.
Depending on the quality of the studies, the figures are extremely variable.
Basically, we have 25% of people who can cause problems beyond a month, and 10% beyond three months.
What is recognized is that 1% of infected patients will have serious and complex damage that requires specific treatment.
What is certain is that vaccination protects against the risk of persistent form.
According to studies, from 50 to 70%.
Furthermore, the Omicron variant results in fewer prolonged forms than the earlier variants.
“The first modeling work reveals that there would be around 700,000 people with long Covid, including 70,000 patients who require specific care, explains the ministry.
We are in the process of refining these figures.
By specifying that work on this question should be completed in April.
What does this roadmap foresee?
With an envelope of 20 million euros, in addition to the 10 million announced for research projects, the ministry hopes to improve the training of doctors.
“The long Covid will be a priority orientation for Continuing Professional Development (CPD)” for practicing health professionals, completes the General Directorate for the Offer of Care (DGOS).
In addition, 130 coordination cells will be organized in all territories to improve access to care everywhere.
“One of the components of the roadmap looks at the long pediatric Covid, assures the Ministry of Health.
According to studies, these persistent symptoms would affect between 2 and 30% of infected children.
Finally, a big part concerns research.
“Studies are needed to find treatments, insists Pauline Oustric, president of the After J20 patient association, who will sit on the monitoring committee for this strategy.
Patients are only waiting for one thing and that is to heal.
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