Gangnam Severance Opens 'Long COVID Clinic'

Professor Son Dahye of the Department of Family Medicine at Yonsei University Gangnam Severance Hospital is examining a patient visiting the Long COVID Clinic.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Yonsei University Gangnam Severance Hospital announced on the 26th that it has opened a ‘Long Covid Clinic’ for patients struggling with daily recovery after COVID-19 infection.

In response to the increasing number of patients suffering from long-term aftereffects following COVID-19 quarantine release, Gangnam Severance Hospital plans to provide optimal treatment through organic multidisciplinary collaboration among specialized faculty members from departments such as Family Medicine, Pulmonology, and Cardiology.

Visitors to the Long Covid Clinic undergo blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, and pulmonary function tests to closely identify the causes of post-COVID-19 symptoms. Based on the test results, personalized treatment including medication and multidisciplinary cooperation will be provided for the treatment and management of COVID-19 aftereffects.

After recovery from COVID-19, aftereffects can appear throughout the body, including cardiac and respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum, chest pain, and shortness of breath; systemic symptoms such as lethargy and fatigue; neurological symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and sleep disorders; as well as abnormalities in smell and taste, hair loss, and sexual dysfunction. When these symptoms persist for at least 2 months and up to over a year, it is called ‘Long Covid.’

In particular, if COVID-19 aftereffects persist and are left untreated, they can lead to pulmonary fibrosis, heart disease, and other complications, so active treatment is necessary. For example, if shortness of breath or difficulty breathing occurs even with minimal movement, there is a high possibility of progressing pulmonary fibrosis. In such cases, excessive activity can lead to sudden respiratory distress, so prompt treatment through accurate testing is essential.

Professor Son Da-hye of the Department of Family Medicine said, “If Long Covid symptoms do not improve, worsen, or new symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, weakness in parts of the body, or newly accompanied fever appear, it is necessary to visit the hospital as soon as possible.”

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