The WHO estimates it at 15%. For Public Health France (SPF), this could be double. According to a survey carried out by the national agency between March 22 and April 8, the prevalence of long Covid in patients infected with SARS-Cov 2 is 30%. “At the scale of the French population at the time of the study, “post-Covid-19 disease” would concern 2.06 million people over the age of 18”, calculates SPF, while specifying that these results, based on a sample of 27,537 people aged 18 and over, must “be interpreted with caution”.
“Additional work is underway to confirm and deepen these initial results, as well as to assess the impact on the quality of life and mental health of those affected,” continues Public Health France.
Women and working people more affected
For Dr. Agnès Giannotti, these data indeed require to be dug. “The study was not carried out in the general population but on a panel, which is moreover of volunteers”, raises the president of the union of general practitioners MG France, for whom the table of symptoms (fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, depression, etc.) remains to this day too general to rule out other diagnoses.
According to data collected by Public Health France, these persistent difficulties affect women, working people and people who have been hospitalized more. In most cases, their symptoms subside over time, but in 20% of cases they still persist 18 months after infection.
This count, the first in France, was long awaited by patients. “This finally makes it possible to measure the extent of this public health problem and therefore to advance in its recognition”, rejoices Matthieu Lestage, spokesperson for the AprèsJ20 association, created in the spring of 2020 to alert to the daily difficulties of these patients.
GPs on the front line
According to Public Health France, the vast majority of them (87%) go first to their general practitioner, “first point of contact to ensure the diagnosis and proper management of “post-Covid-19 disease””. “Proper information for general practitioners on “post-Covid-19 disease” and additional care systems seems necessary”, recommends SPF.
If progress remains to be made, Matthieu Lestage measures the progress made in two years. “The High Authority for Health has published sheets to guide general practitioners, regional health agencies have also taken up the issue and care units have been created”, salutes this former soldier, himself hard hit.
Created by the law of January 22, 2022, a platform for referencing and taking care of patients should also see the light of day soon. “We are making progress, but the impetus that will lead to truly structured care throughout the territory is still lacking, believes Matthieu Lestage. It’s good to have numbers, but behind that, there are humans that need to be cared for. »