McMaster University has been leading the way by developing Canada’s first set of comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines for Post COVID-19 Condition (PCC). CAN-PCC is the name of this initiative. This landmark initiative seeks to improve diagnosis, management, prevention, and treatment of PCC. This invisible condition affects over a million Canadians. With a significant $9 million investment from the Public Health Agency of Canada, CAN-PCC has been launched. This international collaborative project unites PCC experts from across Canada and the world, health professionals, and people who have experienced PCC as a patient or caregiver.
As part of the toolkit, CAN-PCC is intended to provide around 100 evidence-based recommendations, grouped into six main areas. The intent of these guidelines is to inform and guide patients, healthcare providers, and policymakers in addressing the challenges created by PCC. The recommendations emphasize the importance of indoor ventilation and air filtration to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and subsequently reduce the risk of developing PCC. As CAN-PCC, we are mobilizing to advocate for metformin as a first-line treatment option. They stress the fundamental importance of care navigators in assisting those affected by the condition.
“These guidelines are designed to provide and implement actionable recommendations that will help health-care professionals offer the best possible care to patients experiencing long COVID,” stated Robby Nieuwlaat, a leading figure in the development of CAN-PCC.
More than 150 collaborators, including those with lived experience of PCC, helped develop CAN-PCC. More than anything, this joint initiative presents an unprecedented victory for both McMaster University and Canada. Each member of this multidisciplinary team contributed their efforts towards producing clinically useful guidelines. They wanted to improve the experience of patients and their health care providers.
“The establishment of a multidisciplinary team of more than 150 Canadian and international collaborators, including persons with lived experience, who have created these guidelines is an achievement that puts McMaster and Canada at the forefront of long COVID care,” remarked Nieuwlaat.
The guidelines are available in both English and French. In addition, you’ll find other tools in multiple languages, making them accessible to all Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The holistic approach of CAN-PCC highlights its promise to make a difference in reestablishing kinder, compassionate, and person-centered care to those living with PCC.
“The creation of the Canadian Guidelines for Post COVID-19 Condition marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to address the long-term impacts of COVID-19,” stated Theresa Tam. “These guidelines will serve as a crucial resource to support those living with this condition as well as the health professionals that provide the care that best fit their needs.”
