Table 1 Research priorities identified at the Long Covid Forum. Framework for identifying research needs from the Long COVID Forum
From: Research priorities for Long Covid: refined through an international multi-stakeholder forum
Research priorities (aligned to the WHO mid-term and long-term research priorities: 2019 novel coronavirus [4]) | Identified sub-priority for Long Covid | Populations (multi-country studies needed) |
|---|---|---|
Virus: natural history, transmission and diagnosis | - Identify pathogenesis - Investigate the impact of chronic and acute co-infections | Hospitalised patients; non-hospitalised patients; clinical diagnosis only, individuals; children; vulnerable communities; resource-constrained populations |
Epidemiological studies | - Define the clinical presentations of Long Covid and characterise the burden and spectrum of Long Covid across populations according to clear case definition - Determine any associations between host genetic factors and Long Covid | |
Clinical characterisation and management | - Agree case definition and diagnosis - Establish causality -Relationship between acute disease and Long Covid development - Describe underlying mechanisms to identify potential therapeutic targets - Investigate pathogenesis to explain, e.g. thrombotic tendencies, organ impairment - Investigate the impact of chronic and acute co-infections and co-morbidities - Characterise mental health and neurological impacts | |
Candidate therapeutics R&D | - Investigate antiviral and anti-inflammatory therapeutics and therapeutic timings to prevent Long Covid - Investigate therapeutics to treat Long Covid symptoms and non-pharmaceutical interventions | |
Candidate vaccines R&D | - Investigate the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on people with Long Covid - Investigate whether vaccination prevents Long Covid - Investigate re-infection in people with Long Covid and impact on vaccine priority list | |
Social sciences in the outbreak response | - Health systems research on identifying and supporting Long Covid cases (through holistic care) |