The importance of screening for and identifying long COVID in individuals, communities, and populations

Michael Muleme; Angela Crombie; Danielle Hitch; Andrew Georgiou; Judith Thomas; Kylie Ovenden; Kevin Masman; Darcie Cooper; Sophie Julian; James Boyd; Sarah J. Annesley

doi:10.4324/9781003528104-7

The importance of screening for and identifying long COVID in individuals, communities, and populations

Michael Muleme
, Angela Crombie
, Danielle Hitch
, Andrew Georgiou
, Judith Thomas
, Kylie Ovenden
, Kevin Masman
, Darcie Cooper
, Sophie Julian
, James Boyd
, Sarah J. Annesley

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

What is Long COVID? The answer to this question is complicated by the fact that there are numerous clinical definitions in use, symptom presentation is diverse, evidence of an acute infection is not always available, and some people still doubt the biological basis of the disease and consider it psychosomatic. General practitioners and health service professionals are essential in diagnosing the condition and must take a broad and personalised approach. Accurately diagnosing individuals will result in better outcomes for those patients, allowing them to access the health services they require and improving research. Understanding and assessing the risk factors, determining the prevalence and identifying which health services patients need will all lead to better outcomes. Big data can answer these questions but again relies upon accurate diagnosis. Datathons such as the COVIDthon event hosted by Bendigo Health in Victoria, Australia, can provide a platform for researchers across many disciplines to access and interrogate healthcare data and stimulate much needed further research into Long COVID.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The rehabilitation and management of Long COVID
Subtitle of host publication	a handbook for clinical practice
Editors	Danielle Hitch, Joanne Wrench
Place of Publication	Abingdon
Publisher	Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group
Chapter	5
Pages	61-76
Number of pages	16
ISBN (Electronic)	9781003528104
ISBN (Print)	9781032865591
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003528104-7
Publication status	Published - 12 Sept 2025

Access to Document

10.4324/9781003528104-7

Cite this

Muleme, M., Crombie, A., Hitch, D., Georgiou, A., Thomas, J., Ovenden, K., Masman, K., Cooper, D., Julian, S., Boyd, J., & Annesley, S. J. (2025). The importance of screening for and identifying long COVID in individuals, communities, and populations. In D. Hitch, & J. Wrench (Eds.), The rehabilitation and management of Long COVID: a handbook for clinical practice (pp. 61-76). Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003528104-7

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abstract = "What is Long COVID? The answer to this question is complicated by the fact that there are numerous clinical definitions in use, symptom presentation is diverse, evidence of an acute infection is not always available, and some people still doubt the biological basis of the disease and consider it psychosomatic. General practitioners and health service professionals are essential in diagnosing the condition and must take a broad and personalised approach. Accurately diagnosing individuals will result in better outcomes for those patients, allowing them to access the health services they require and improving research. Understanding and assessing the risk factors, determining the prevalence and identifying which health services patients need will all lead to better outcomes. Big data can answer these questions but again relies upon accurate diagnosis. Datathons such as the COVIDthon event hosted by Bendigo Health in Victoria, Australia, can provide a platform for researchers across many disciplines to access and interrogate healthcare data and stimulate much needed further research into Long COVID.",

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Muleme, M, Crombie, A, Hitch, D, Georgiou, A , Thomas, J, Ovenden, K, Masman, K, Cooper, D, Julian, S, Boyd, J & Annesley, SJ 2025, The importance of screening for and identifying long COVID in individuals, communities, and populations. in D Hitch & J Wrench (eds), The rehabilitation and management of Long COVID: a handbook for clinical practice. Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, Abingdon, pp. 61-76. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003528104-7

The importance of screening for and identifying long COVID in individuals, communities, and populations. / Muleme, Michael; Crombie, Angela; Hitch, Danielle et al.
The rehabilitation and management of Long COVID: a handbook for clinical practice. ed. / Danielle Hitch; Joanne Wrench. Abingdon: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2025. p. 61-76.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

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AU - Masman, Kevin

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AU - Boyd, James

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Muleme M, Crombie A, Hitch D, Georgiou A , Thomas J, Ovenden K et al. The importance of screening for and identifying long COVID in individuals, communities, and populations. In Hitch D, Wrench J, editors, The rehabilitation and management of Long COVID: a handbook for clinical practice. Abingdon: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group. 2025. p. 61-76 doi: 10.4324/9781003528104-7

The importance of screening for and identifying long COVID in individuals, communities, and populations

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Establishing a digital health foundation for outcomes-based diagnostic excellence, safety and value

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The importance of screening for and identifying long COVID in individuals, communities, and populations

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Establishing a digital health foundation for outcomes-based diagnostic excellence, safety and value

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