BACKGROUND: Over 65 million people have long COVID. Evidence for using Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) to treat long COVID is growing. A systematic review of evidence for guiding clinical decision is warranted. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects and safety of CHM in alleviating the severity of dyspnea, fatigue, exercise intolerance, depression, anxiety and insomnia in long COVID adults based on registered randomized clinical trials (RCT). SEARCH STRATEGY: World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry were searched for registered trial protocols from database inception to February 10, 2023. English (PubMed, Embase, AMED and CINAHL) and Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang Data and CQVIP) were then searched to identify relevant publications from December 2019 through April 6, 2023. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Registered RCTs that compared the effects of Chinese herbal medicines or Chinese herbal formulas against a control treatment (i.e., the placebo or usual care) in adults with persistent symptoms of long COVID. The primary outcome of dyspnea, and secondary outcomes of fatigue, exercise intolerance, depression, anxiety and insomnia were measured using validated tools at the end of the treatment. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: Data were extracted, and eligible RCTs were evaluated using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations independently by two researchers. Effect sizes were estimated by random-effects modelling and mean difference (MD). Heterogeneity between trials was quantified by I². RESULTS: Among the 38 registered clinical trials we identified, seven RCTs (1,519 patients) were included in the systematic review. One RCT had a low overall risk of bias. Compared to the control, CHM reduces dyspnea on the Borg Dyspnea Scale score (MD = -0.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.65 to 0.25) with moderate certainty, and reduces fatigue on the Borg Scale (MD = -0.48, 95% CI = -0.74 to -0.22) with low certainty. CHM clinically reduces depression on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score (MD = -6.00, 95% CI = -7.56 to -4.44) and anxiety on Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale score (MD = -6.10, 95% CI = -7.67 to -4.53), and reduces insomnia on the Insomnia Severity Index (MD = -4.86, 95% CI = -12.50 to 2.79) with moderate certainty. Meta-analysis of two RCTs (517 patients) showed that CHM clinically improves exercise intolerance by increasing 6-minute walking distance (MD = -15.92, 95% CI = -10.20 to 42.05) with substantial heterogeneity (I² = 68%) and low certainty. CONCLUSION CHM is associated with a post-treatment clinical reduction in depression and anxiety in long COVID adults, compared to the control, but it does not have a strong treatment effect on dyspnea and insomnia. Effects of CHM on exercise intolerance and fatigue are uncertain, and the safety of using CHM remains questionable. Please cite this article as: Tsang MS, Zhou IW, Zhang AL, Xue CC. Chinese herbal medicine for dyspnea and persistent symptoms of long COVID: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(2): 126-137.
Humans ; Dyspnea/etiology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; COVID-19/complications* ; Fatigue/drug therapy* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Anxiety/drug therapy* ; Depression/drug therapy* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/drug therapy* ; Betacoronavirus

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of three-in-one intelligent screening in outpatient pre-inspection in children's hospital. METHODS: We randomly enrolled 100 children pre-screened by traditional method in the outpatient department of Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University from February 6th to 16th, 2020, and another 100 children by the intelligent three-in-one mode from February 17th to 27th, 2020. The traditional triage was conducted by nurses based on face-to-face, one-by-one interview of the epidemiological history and consultation department, and the temperature was measured before manual triage. The intelligent three-in-one model combined online rapid pre-inspection and triage, on-site manual confirmation, as well as synchronized online health education system. For on-line registered patients, the system automatically sent the COVID-19 epidemiological pre-screening triage questionnaire one hour before the appointment, requiring parents to complete and submit online before arriving at the hospital. The on-site registered patients were controlled at 100 m away from the hospital entrance. The nurses guided the parents to scan the QR code and fill in the COVID-19 epidemiological pre-examination triage questionnaire. At the entrance of the hospital, the nurse checked the guidance sheet and took the temperature again. The children with red guidance sheet were checked again and confirmed by pre-examination nurses, and accompanied to the isolation clinic through COVID-19 patients-only entrance. The children with yellow guidance sheet were guided to fever clinic. The children with green guidance sheet could go with their parents to the designated area, and then went to the corresponding consultation area. Health education was carried out throughout the treatment, and the system automatically posted the corresponding outpatient instructions and education courses. Parents would read the courses on their mobile phones and counsel online. The time of pre-examination and the coincidence rate of triage were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The three-in-one intelligent pre-inspection mode took an average of (25.6±8.0) s for each child, which was significantly shorter than the traditional pre-inspection mode (74.8±36.4) s ( CONCLUSIONS The three-in-one intelligent pre-inspection model can effectively shorten the patient pre-check time, with similar triage coincidence rate to traditional model.
Adult ; Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Child ; Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Internet ; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Time ; Triage/standards*

OBJECTIVE: To establish reuse process of positive pressure powered air-filter protective hoods during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. METHODS: The procedure of pretreatment, storage, recovery, cleaning, disinfection and sterilization process of positive pressure powered air-filter protective hoods, which were used in the treatment of COVID-19 infection patients was established in Central Sterile Supply Department of the hospital. The cleaning and disinfection effects of the protective hoods after treatment were examined by magnifying glass method, residual protein detection method, real-time PCR, and agar pour plate method. RESULTS: Twenty five used protective hoods underwent totally 135 times of washing, disinfecting and sterilizing procedures. After washing, all the protein residue tests and COVID-19 nucleic acid tests showed negative results. After sterilizing, all the protective hoods met sterility requirement. All the tested protective hoods were undamaged after reprocessing. CONCLUSIONS The established reuse procedures for used positive pressure powered air-filter protective hoods are safe.
Air Filters/virology* ; Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control* ; Disinfection/standards* ; Equipment Reuse/standards* ; Pandemics/prevention & control* ; Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Sterilization/standards*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of standardized health education on the sputum specimen collection rate for nucleic acid detection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-seven patients in fever clinics and isolation wards of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of Zhejiang University and 307 migrant workers returning to 5 enterprises in Shanghai from February 3 to March 14, 2020 were enrolled in the study. Through clarifying the procedures of collecting sputum specimens, making graphic/video health education materials, standardizing the contents and methods of health education, we conducted education to the subjects. The subject expectorated spontaneously or with medical assistance. For patients, the number of sampling attempts and sputum acquisition times were documented before and after the implementation of the standardized expectoration method; for the returning migrant employees in the enterprises, only the number of collected samples after the implementation of the standardized expectoration method were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 378 sputum samples were collected from 227 patients. The sputum sampling rates before and after the implementation of health education were 40.9%and 58.4%, respectively ( CONCLUSIONS The education for standardized sputum sample collection method can effectively increase the sputum collection rate.
Betacoronavirus/genetics* ; COVID-19 ; China ; Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis* ; Efficiency ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/methods* ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Specimen Handling/methods* ; Sputum ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experience of perioperative prevention during double-lung transplantation for elderly patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: Clinical data of 2 elderly patients with COVID-19 who underwent double-lung transplantation in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine in March 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Perioperative protective measures were introduced in terms of medical staffing, respiratory tract, pressure injuries, air in operating room, instruments and equipment, pathological specimens, and information management. RESULTS: Two cases of double-lung transplantation were successfully completed, and the patients had no operation-related complications. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenator was successfully removed 2 to 4 days after surgery and the patients recovered well. There was no infection among medical staff. CONCLUSIONS Adequate preoperative preparation, complete patient transfer procedures, proper placement of instruments and equipment, strengthening of intraoperative care management, and attention to prevention of pressure injury complications can maximize the safety of COVID-19 patients and medical staff.
Aged ; Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Infections ; Humans ; Lung Transplantation/standards* ; Pandemics ; Perioperative Care/standards* ; Pneumonia, Viral ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Transplant Recipients

In Taiwan, high-risk patients have been identified and tested for preventing community spread of COVID-19. Most sample collection was performed in emergency departments (EDs). Traditional sample collection requires substantial personal protective equipment (PPE), healthcare professionals, sanitation workers, and isolation space. To solve this problem, we established a multifunctional sample collection station (MSCS) for COVID-19 testing in front of our ED. The station is composed of a thick and clear acrylic board (2 cm), which completely separates the patient and medical personnel. Three pairs of gloves (length, 45 cm) are attached and fixed on the outside wall of the MSCS. The gloves are used to conduct sampling of throat/nasal swabs, sputum, and blood from patients. The gap between the board and the building is only 0.2 cm (sealed with silicone sealant). ED personnel communicate with patients using a small two-way broadcast system. Medical waste is put in specific trashcans installed in the table outside the MSCS. With full physical protection, the personnel conducting the sampling procedure need to wear only their N95 mask and gloves. After we activated the station, our PPE, sampling time, and sanitization resources were considerably conserved during the 4-week observation period. The MSCS obviously saved time and PPE. It elevated the efficiency and capacity of the ED for handling potential community infections of COVID-19.
Betacoronavirus ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; organization & administration ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Pandemics ; Personal Protective Equipment ; supply & distribution ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Taiwan ; epidemiology

Telemedicine is one of the five key components of the "Internet Plus Healthcare".Due to its high speed,real-timeness,low cost,and wide spread,telemedicine is highly feasible in the prevention and control of major infectious diseases.This article introduces the practiceof telemedicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital during the cornavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)epidemic,during which the network resources were applied to break geographical restrictions and resolve communication barriers between hospitals and departments.This article summarizes the telemedicine application before,during and after COVID-19 control and elucidates how to build a telemedicine prevention and control system for infectious diseases,with an attempt to further improve telemedicine and is application in the public health emergency system in China.
Betacoronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; drug therapy ; Telemedicine

To explore the optimal therapy time for the treatment of severe coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)by traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and its influence on the therapeutic effect and prognosis. The clinical data,laboratory findings,and outcomes of 64 patients with severe COVID-19 treated with TCM and western medicine in Chongqing from January 20,2020, to March 11,2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into early intervention group[TCM was initiated within 3 days (including day 3) after the first diagnosis of severe type/critical type COVID-19]and late intervention group[TCM was initiated after 7 days (including day 7) after the first diagnosis of severe type /critical type COVID-19].The changes in clinical parameters during the course of disease were compared between the two groups. On day 14,the oxygenation index was 292.5(252.0,351.0)mmHg in the early intervention group,which was significantly higher than that in the late intervention group [246.0(170.0,292.5)mmHg](=0.005).The length of hospital stay [(18.56±1.11)d (24.87±1.64)d,=0.001],duration of ICU stay [(14.12±0.91)d (20.00±1.53)d,=0.000] and time to negativity [(16.77±1.04)d (22.48±1.66)d,=0.001] in the early intervention group were significantly shorter than those in the late intervention group.The intubation rate(7.3%)in the early intervention group was significantly lower than that in the late intervention group(30.4%)(=0.028). Early TCM therapy within three days after a diagnosis of severe COVID-19 can shorten the length of hospital stay,duration of ICU stay,and time to negativity and decrease intubation rate.
Betacoronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; drug therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

To summarize the clinical characteristics and chest CT findings of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)patients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital(PUMCH). A total of 13 patients with COVID-19 confirmed at PUMCH from January 20 to February 6,2020 were selected as the research subjects.Their epidemiological histories,clinical characteristics,laboratory tests,and chest CT findings were analyzed retrospectively.The location,distribution,density,and other accompanying signs of abnormal lung CT lesions were recorded,and the clinical types of these patients were assessed. The clinical type was "common type" in all these 13 patients aged(46.8±14.7)years(range:27-68 years).Ten patients had a travel history to Wuhan or direct contact with patients from Wuhan,2 cases had recent travel histories,and 1 case had a travel history to Beijing suburb.The white blood cell(WBC)count was normal or decreased in 92.3% of the patients and the lymphocyte count decreased in 15.4% of the patients.Twelve patients(92.3%)had a fever,among whom 11 patients were admitted due to fever and 2 patients(15.4%)had low fever.Eight patients(61.5%)had dry cough.The CT findings in these 13 patients were all abnormal.The lesions were mainly distributed along the bronchi and under the pleura.The lesions were relatively limited in 8 patients(affecting 1-3 lobes,predominantly in the right or left lower lobe),and diffuse multiple lesions of bilateral lungs were seen in 5 patients.The CT findings mainly included ground glass opacities(GGOs)(=10,76.9%),focal consolidation within GGOs(=7,53.8%),thickened vascular bundle passing through the lesions(=10,76.9%),bronchial wall thickening(=12,92.3%),air bronchogram(=10,76.9%),vacuole signs in the lesions(=7,53.8%),fine reticulation and interlobular septal thickening(=3,23.1%),reversed halo-sign(=2,15.4%),crazy-paving pattern(=2,15.4%),and pleural effusion(=2,15.4%). Most of our patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at PUMCH had a travel history to Wuhan or direct contact with patients from Wuhan.The first symptoms of COVID-19 mainly include fever and dry cough,along with normal or reduced counts of WBC and lymphocytes.CT may reveal that the lesions distribute along the bronchi and under the pleura;they are typically localized GGOs in the early stage but can become multiple GGOs and infiltrative consolidation in both lungs in the advanced stage.Scattered vacuole signs may be visible inside the lesions in some patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Betacoronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

To investigate the computed tomographc(CT)features of mild/moderate and severe/critical cases of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)in the recovery phase. Totally 63 discharged patients in Wuhan,China,who underwent both chest CT and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)from February 1 to February 29,2020,were included.With RT-PCR as a gold standard,the performance of chest CT in diagnosing COVID-19 was assessed.Patients were divided into mild/moderate and severe/critical groups according to the disease conditions,and clinical features such as sex,age,symptoms,hospital stay,comorbidities,and oxygen therapy were collected.CT images in the recovery phase were reviewed in terms of time from onset,CT features,location of lesions,lobe score,and total CT score. There were 37 patients in the mild/moderate group and 26 in the severe/critical group. Compared with the mild/moderate patients,the severe/critical patients had older age [(43±16) years (52±16) years; =2.10, =0.040], longer hospital stay [(15±6)d (19±7)d; =2.70, =0.009], higher dyspnea ratio (5.41% 53.85%; =18.90, <0.001), lower nasal oxygen therapy ratio (81.08% 19.23%;=23.66, <0.001), and higher bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation ratio (0 57.69%; =25.62, <0.001). Time from onset was (23±6) days in severe/critical group, significantly longer than that in mild/moderate group [(18±7) days] (=3.40, <0.001). Severe/critical patients had significantly higher crazy-paving pattern ratio (46.15% 10.81%;=4.24, =0.039) and lower ground-glass opacities ratio (15.38% 67.57%; =16.74, <0.001) than the mild/moderate patients. The proportion of lesions in peripheral lung was significantly higher in mild/moderate group than in severe/critical group (78.38% 34.61%; =13.43, <0.001), and the proportion of diffusely distributed lesions was significantly higher in severe/critical group than in mild/moderate group (65.38% 10.81%; =20.47, <0.001). Total CT score in severe/critical group was also significantly higher in severe/critical group than in mild/moderate group [11 (8,17) points 7 (4,9) points; =3.81, <0.001]. The CT features in the recovery stage differ between mild/moderate and severe/critical COVID-19 patients.The lung infiltration is remarkably more severe in the latter.
Adult ; Aged ; Betacoronavirus ; China ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed