Post-acute COVID syndrome (long COVID): What should radiographers know and the potential impact for imaging services.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented health crisis resulting in over 6 million deaths worldwide, a figure, which continues to grow. In addition to the excess mortality, there are individuals who recovered from the acute stages, but suffered long-term changes in their health post COVID-19, commonly referred to as long COVID. It is estimated there are currently 1.8 million long COVID sufferers by May 2022 in the UK alone. The aim of this narrative literature review is to explore the signs, symptoms and diagnosis of long COVID and the potential impact on imaging services. KEY FINDINGS: Long COVID is estimated to occur in 9.5% of those with two doses of vaccination and 14.6% if those with a single dose or no vaccination. Long COVID is defined by ongoing symptoms lasting for 12 or more weeks post acute infection. Symptoms are associated with reductions in the quality of daily life and may involve multisystem manifestations or present as a single symptom. CONCLUSION: The full impact of long COVID on imaging services is yet to be realised, but there is likely to be significant increased demand for imaging, particularly in CT for the assessment of lung disease. Educators will need to include aspects related to long COVID pathophysiology and imaging presentations in curricula, underpinned by the rapidly evolving evidence base. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Symptoms relating to long COVID are likely to become a common reason for imaging, with a particular burden on Computed Tomography services. Planning, education and updating protocols in line with a rapidly emerging evidence base is going to be essential.

UK university staff experience high levels of sedentary behaviour during work and leisure time.

Objective. Reducing sedentary behaviours at work is imperative. Before effective strategies can be developed there is a need to understand profiles of activity within particular roles and organizations. This study aimed to determine activity profiles of staff by job title at a UK university. Methods. Three-hundred and seventeen participants completed the international physical activity questionnaire - short form to determine physical activity profiles. Fifty-one participants also wore a wrist-worn GENEActiv accelerometer for 7 days and completed a self-report diary denoting work and leisure hours. Results. Twenty-one per cent of respondents were categorized as inactive and achieved 298 ± 178 metabolic equivalent minutes (MET-min)/week. Those in administrative roles were most sedentary (501 ± 161 min/day). Accelerometer data highlighted that sedentary time was identical between job roles (pooled mean 8746 ± 823 counts) and equated to 84 ± 9% of total time. During working hours, management, professional and specialist job roles had the highest level of sedentary time (2066 ± 416 counts). Conclusion. Time spent undertaking sedentary activities during working hours contributes to reduced overall activity and can impede productivity, performance and health. Interventions encouraging regular movement and preventing sedentary behaviours at work are therefore required.