MONDAY, Dec. 2, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and physical and mental health rehabilitation can help improve symptoms of long COVID, according to a review published online Nov. 27 in The BMJ.

Dena Zeraatkar, Ph.D., from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to compare the effectiveness of interventions for the management of long COVID (post-COVID condition).

Based on 24 trials (3,695 patients), the researchers found moderate certainty evidence that when compared with usual care, an online program of CBT probably reduces fatigue (mean difference, −8.4) and probably improves concentration (mean difference, −5.2) in patients with long COVID. There was also moderate-certainty evidence that when compared with usual care, an online, supervised, combined physical and mental health rehabilitation program probably leads to improvement in overall health, with an estimated 161 more patients per 1,000 experiencing meaningful improvement or recovery. Moderate-certainty evidence also showed the online, supervised, combined program probably reduces symptoms of depression (mean difference, −1.50) and probably improves quality of life (0.04). Additionally, moderate-certainty evidence showed that intermittent aerobic exercise three to five times weekly for four to six weeks probably improves physical function versus continuous exercise. No compelling evidence was seen to support the effectiveness of vortioxetine, leronlimab, combined probiotics-prebiotics, coenzyme Q10, amygdala and insula retraining, combined L-arginine and vitamin C, inspiratory muscle training, transcranial direct current stimulation, or hyperbaric oxygen.

“We trust that this systematic review will inform future guideline recommendations about the care of patients with long COVID,” the authors write.

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