PATIENTS with respiratory ailments that were hit with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are at risk from experiencing its long-term effects, the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) said yesterday.
The PCCP said they have observed the so-called “long COVID” among several pulmonary patients.
“We have a term in pulmonary medicine called long haul or the long-term COVID sequelae,” said PCCP president Dr. Imelda Mateo in a virtual press briefing of the Department of Health (DOH).
“We have observed, especially among those who had severe or critical form and survived, that they have long term sequelae in their lungs,” she added.
Mateo said that among the symptoms of the long-COVID are shortness of breath, chronic coughing, and chronic sputum production. “That means when you have more coughing.
And when you have shortness of breath, there are structures in your airways that were really damaged,” she explained.
The PCCP chief said it is even worse when pulmonary patients without COVID-19 vaccines are hit with the virus.
“If they are able to recover, they have residual abnormalities in the airways, much more for those unvaccinated,” said Mateo.
She said this is the reason why the PCCP is supporting the recommendation of the Vaccine Experts Panel for a second booster shot to be given for immunocompromised individuals.
“We need the small percent increase in protection because you are immunocompromised.
This small additional protection could be useful for high-risk groups during a surge,” said Mateo.
Earlier, the VEP said that a second booster dose may be useful for special populations, such as the moderately and severely immunocompromised individuals.
Among the chronic respiratory diseases considered as comorbidities are asthma and respiratory allergies, COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchiectasis, pulmonary hypertension, lung malignancies, and pulmonary tuberculosis.
