Pandemic Perspectives for Primary Care

11/16/2022

The types of presentations commonly seen in primary care clinics for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), also known as long COVID, vary, but patients generally present with joint pain, headaches, myalgia, back pain, abdominal pain, chest pain, and/or cognitive dysfunction such as memory impairment, depression, or slow processing speed, according to Theresa Dowell, DNP, MPT, who presented a session on PASC-related pain at Practical Updates in Primary Care 2022 Virtual Series.

The learning objectives during Ms. Dowell’s presentation on PASC-related pain presentations included:

  • Differentiating PASC pain presentations and developing treatment strategies for patients with PASC-related pain
  • Identifying PASC-related neurocognitive symptoms and examining the treatment approaches for patients with PASC-related cognitive symptoms
  • Recognizing PASC gastrointestinal complaints and noting the management options for PASC-related gastrointestinal dysfunction
  • Discussing the pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical interventions used for the treatment of PASC-related pain

“So, what are the drivers of this pain?” Ms. Dowell asked during her presentation. “Typically, we are going to see contributors of neuroinflammation.”

Some of the contributors to neuroinflammation and pain listed by Ms. Dowell in her presentation included peripheral inflammation, viral infection, oxidative stress, vasomotor dysfunction, ischemic lesions, and mast cell activation.

Ms Dowell is a family nurse practitioner at Four Peaks Healthcare Associates in Flagstaff, Arizona. Ms Dowell presented a session for the Practical Updates in Primary Care 2022 Virtual Series titled, “Pandemic Perspectives for Primary Care.”

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Reference:

Dowell T. A continued conversation: pandemic perspectives for primary care. Talk presented at: Practical Updates in Primary Care 2022 Virtual Series; Virtual. https://www.practicalupdates.consultant360.com/