“Post-COVID-19 condition” is a term used to describe a range of physical and mental health sequelae that occur four weeks or more after infection with SARS-CoV-2. This condition has a wide range of physical and psychological effects, including functional limitations which can cause significant difficulties for the patient’s well-being and quality of life.

Studies show that about 9–15% of patients who were hospitalised for COVID-19 treatment are re-admitted within two months of recovery due to a Post-COVID condition. This condition seems to disproportionately affect female patients. Adults and children can both experience post-COVID problems, although the severity and frequency of effects have not been studied.

According to Ho Minh Tuan, MD, MSc (Head of Cardiology Department, Head of COVID-19 Treatment Department, FV Hospital), patients who have been hospitalised for COVID-19 treatment should be re-examined for evaluation of post-COVID effects within one to three weeks of discharge. Patients who have had a mild to moderate COVID-19 infection can self-monitor for three to four weeks; if new or persistent symptoms appear, an in-depth examination of the impact of COVID-19 can be considered. Post-COVID-19 at specialties such as Cardiology, Pulmonology, Neurology or Otolaryngology (ENT).

FV Hospital is currently implementing three post-Covid-19 check-up programmes, each tailored to a specific patient condition. In particular, FV introduced the application of Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) in examination for people with many symptoms of Post-COVID-19 and patients who have been hospitalised for treatment of SARS-COV-2.

Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) is commonly used to classify and diagnose patients with dyspnea, tachycardia, chest tightness, unstable blood pressure, and decreased ability to function under exertion due to an unknown cause; risk assessment of cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction during exercise; and helping to detect potential cardiovascular and respiratory diseases that cannot be detected by conventional tests or while resting. These are also common symptoms of patients with a Post-COVID-19 condition which should be monitored and treated with a specific plan to reduce the risk of other serious illnesses from developing. This technique is also applicable to athletes or sports players who need to have their cardiopulmonary function tested before returning to intense exercise after contracting COVID-19.

The CPET test alone takes about 80 minutes, including preparation, spirometry (maximum volume amplitude that the patient can inhale and exhale), DLCO (to assess the degree of ventilation of the lungs), exercises on a bicycle dynamometer, and assessment during recovery following exercise. Therefore, the patient’s appointment will be arranged at a flexible time so that the whole process will be convenient.

FV’s Post-COVID-19 Check-up programmes (including CPET) is conducted at the General Health Check-up Centre and the Cardio-Pulmonology Function Tests Room within FV’s luxurious modern Cardiology Department, ensuring the maximum degree of patient comfort during the examination.

For detailed information on Post-COVID-19 health check-up programmes at FV Hospital, please refer to:

Post COVID-19 Check-up Programmes