Characterisation, determinants, mechanisms and consequences of the long-term effects of COVID-19: providing the evidence base for health care services

We will address the following patient defined questions: What is long-COVID and how is it diagnosed? Why have I got long-COVID? What effects will long-COVID have on my health, ability to work and family? What are my chances of recovery? How will this research ensure I am getting the right treatment and support for long-COVID? Physical and mental health consequences of C-19 infection, termed long-COVID, occur frequently. Our understanding of long-COVID, including how best to diagnose, risk factors, health and economic consequences, is poor, limiting efforts to help people. We will use a combination of national anonymised linked primary care electronic health records, and longitudinal studies of people of all ages across the country. We have asked participants about C-19 infections, long-COVID symptoms, and have collected health and socioeconomic information for many years before the pandemic. From these studies, we will ask people reporting long-COVID, and comparator groups, to wear a wrist band measuring exercise ability, breathing, and heart rate, and complete online questionnaires on mental health and cognitive function. They will also be invited to clinic for non-invasive imaging to look at potential damage to vital organs, such as the brain, lungs and heart. Patients, members of the public overseeing electronic health record research, and study members have been involved in shaping the research questions, and will be consulted for the duration of the project. In addition, people with long-COVID and their families, from the studies, will be involved in shaping the diagnostic tools for long-COVID, and aiding our understanding of determinants of recovery, and responses to therapy. We will share findings with bodies involved in guidelines (NICE, who are also part of this project), with government (via the Chief Scientific Advisor), with the public via social media and other outputs, and the scientific community via research publications.