Long COVID and Chronic Conditions: Multidisciplinary Innovation for Recovery and Health Resilience

Long COVID, now recognised globally as a chronic condition, affects multiple organ systems and demands coordinated, multidisciplinary care. Countries are responding with specialised clinics, rehabilitation pathways and digital innovations. Combining clinical precision, functional recovery and scientific research offers a path to personalised, tech-driven health resilience.

Key Points

• Long COVID impacts multiple organ systems and presents a wide range of persistent symptoms.
• Several countries now recognise Long COVID as a chronic illness with dedicated care pathways.
• Multidisciplinary teams are essential to address the complexity of Long COVID treatment.
• Digital tools and AI enable personalised care and continuous patient monitoring.
• Scientific research explores marine compounds and supplements for symptom management.

Introduction

Global health systems continue to deal with the long-term aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Long COVID (also referred to as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, or PASC) has been recognised as a chronic condition with broad systemic, economic and human implications. The World Health Organisation defines Long COVID as symptoms lasting more than two months that begin at least three months after a probable or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. These symptoms often include fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction and psychological distress.

Several countries, including France and the United Kingdom, now officially recognise Long COVID as a chronic illness, granting access to public health services and disability support. Its impact extends beyond individuals: healthcare costs rise, workforce participation drops and long-term disability challenges both employers and social security systems.

Addressing this complex condition requires coordinated care that integrates medical, functional and scientific innovation. In this article, three professionals from different fields — clinical medicine, kinesiology and biotechnology — explore how multidisciplinary and evidence-based approaches can contribute to comprehensive recovery.

Understanding Long COVID as a Multisystemic Condition

Long COVID affects various organ systems, including respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal. It also involves mitochondrial dysfunction, immune dysregulation and inflammatory processes. This leads to a wide range of symptoms: brain fog, post-exertional malaise, palpitations, chronic pain, anxiety and more.

These symptoms often overlap with those of other chronic conditions and post-viral syndromes, further complicating diagnosis and treatment. Many patients face disbelief or fragmented care. Thus, a holistic, coordinated model is essential.

Global Responses to Long COVID

Long COVID has been officially recognised as a chronic illness in several countries. In France, it is classified as an “affection de longue durée” (long-term condition), granting patients access to extended healthcare coverage under the national health system. The United Kingdom has established over 80 dedicated Long COVID clinics through its National Health Service (NHS), providing multidisciplinary support that includes general practitioners, physiotherapists, psychologists and occupational therapists. In the United States, Long COVID is listed as a potentially disabling condition under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enabling affected individuals to request workplace and educational accommodations.

In Spain, regional health services have created specific care pathways for Long COVID, including dedicated units for diagnosis and rehabilitation, particularly in Catalonia and Madrid. Canada has developed patient-informed guidelines and launched post-COVID condition clinics across provinces, with an emphasis on primary care coordination. China has focused on early rehabilitation and long-term symptom tracking, integrating traditional Chinese medicine in some public hospital programmes. In Russia, clinical research and state registries have supported classification of Long COVID symptoms and testing of pharmacological options, especially in cardiopulmonary care.

Across Latin America, responses have varied widely due to resource limitations, but initiatives in Argentina, Chile and Brazil include hospital-based multidisciplinary clinics, public education campaigns and recognition of persistent symptoms in occupational health policies.

Despite these efforts, disparities in diagnosis, treatment access and insurance coverage remain, emphasising the need for global consensus on Long COVID management protocols.

A Multidisciplinary Ecosystem for Care

No single speciality can fully address the spectrum of Long COVID. As such, multidisciplinary teams are fundamental. These teams include physicians, rehabilitation specialists mental health professionals, data analysts and researchers. In the future, they will increasingly include AI experts and digital engineers to interpret patient-generated health data and develop predictive tools.

Our collaboration reflects this integrated approach:

• Dr. Francisco Mera Cordero, a clinical physician and global leader in Long COVID research and innovation.
• Dr. Dardo Vargas, a rehabilitation specialist and Long COVID survivor focused on functional and neurophysiological recovery.
• Dr. Tamara Rubilar, a scientist specialising in marine bioproducts and the investigation of marine-derived bioactive compounds.

Though we do not form a clinical team, our combined perspectives present a shared vision for interdisciplinary, science-based and patient-centred care.

Clinical Innovation and Tech-Enhanced Models

Dr. Mera Cordero leads the Long COVID Unit at Blue Healthcare and organised the first international Long COVID congress. His approach emphasises precision medicine, integrating symptom mapping, tailored treatments and clinical trials such as E-SPERANZA, which evaluates anti-inflammatory interventions.

He also envisions the future of healthcare driven by tech-enhanced teams: data analysts decoding wearable metrics, AI specialists building risk prediction models and digital engineers supporting patient engagement. These professionals enable early intervention, hyper-personalised therapies and real-time monitoring. For example, remote monitoring and AI models have reduced readmissions in chronic illness care by up to 50%.

Functional Rehabilitation and Human-Centred Recovery

As a Long COVID survivor, Lic. Vargas emphasises the vital role of rehabilitation. Many patients experience intolerance to exercise, dizziness, proprioceptive deficits and emotional symptoms. His programmes use breathing techniques, pacing, postural training and cognitive exercises tailored to each patient’s capacity.

His experience at the G20 Global Long COVID Summit in Rio de Janeiro and work with Long COVID Physio reflect his commitment to global standards of care. He advocates for energy budgeting, patient education and integration of digital tools such as apps and wearable data to optimise recovery.

Scientific Innovation: Exploring Complementary Approaches

In addition to clinical and rehabilitative strategies, scientific innovation plays a growing role in addressing Long COVID. Research has explored the potential of several complementary and adjunctive approaches, including:

• Nutritional and metabolic support, such as vitamin D, NAD+ precursors and anti-inflammatory flavonoids.
• Mitochondrial function restoration, with compounds that support redox balance and cellular energy recovery.
• Marine-derived polyphenols, such as Echinochrome A, which has demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and mitochondrial protective effects in both preclinical and pharmacological studies. Notably, it is the active compound in drugs approved in Russia for cardiac and retinal applications.

These compounds are being increasingly considered in the context of chronic viral syndromes. While more international, peer-reviewed studies are needed, marine biotechnology illustrates how natural bioactive molecules may contribute to post-viral recovery frameworks.

Integration: The Future of Health Resilience

Together, these three approaches form the foundation for a new model of care:

• Clinical teams that personalise treatment and monitor progress through digital platforms.
• Rehabilitation protocols tailored to each patient’s physiology and symptom dynamics.
• Complementary scientific innovations rooted in evidence and sustainability.

With the development of the AI, artificial general intelligence (AGI) may soon synthesise genomics, environment and behavior into predictive insights, further empowering multidisciplinary teams.

Conclusion

Long COVID reveals the urgent need for collaborative, human-centred and technology-integrated healthcare models. From wearable data and precision medicine to functional rehabilitation and complementary innovations, the future lies in synergy. Healthcare systems must invest in interoperable platforms, cross-disciplinary training and equitable access to emerging tools. Through cooperation, we can transform reactive care into resilient health ecosystems.

Conflict of Interest

Dr. Tamara Rubilar is the founder of Promarine Antioxidants, a company that commercialises a nutraceutical product derived from Echinochrome A extracted from sea urchin eggs.