Difference Between RECOVER I and II
RECOVER I and II are distinct COVID-19 research initiatives with different focuses - RECOVER I (part of REMAP-CAP) was a European funding project for COVID-19 treatment trials, while RECOVER II (also known as "Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery") is a large-scale U.S. study investigating long COVID. 1, 2
RECOVER I
- RECOVER I refers to funding obtained through the EU 8th Framework Programme HORIZON2020 in September 2020 to support the REMAP-CAP clinical trial platform during the COVID-19 pandemic 1
- It was part of the European clinical research response to optimize treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients 1
- This funding helped expand REMAP-CAP's participation from 26 study sites to 203 sites across 16 European countries 1
- REMAP-CAP was a randomized, embedded, multifactorial, adaptive platform trial designed to test multiple interventions for patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia, including COVID-19 1
- The trial focused on evaluating acute treatments for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, particularly those requiring intensive care 1
- REMAP-CAP reported its first conclusion (benefit of hydrocortisone) in September 2020 and eventually enrolled over 10,000 patients who were randomized to 50 interventions across 14 treatment domains 1
RECOVER II
- RECOVER II (Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery) is a large-scale U.S.-based observational study investigating post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), commonly known as "long COVID" 2
- This study aims to characterize the prevalence, symptoms, organ dysfunction, natural history, and distinct phenotypes of long COVID 2
- RECOVER II is designed as a combined prospective/retrospective cohort study enrolling 14,880 adults across 86 sites in 33 U.S. states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico 2
- Participants undergo quarterly assessments including questionnaires about symptoms, social determinants, vaccination status, and interim SARS-CoV-2 infections 2
- The study includes biospecimen collection and physical/laboratory examinations at 0,90, and 180 days from infection or negative test date, with yearly follow-up thereafter 2
- The primary outcome is the onset of PASC, measured by signs and symptoms, with the goal of defining a paradigm for identifying long COVID cases 2
Key Differences
- Focus: RECOVER I (REMAP-CAP) focused on acute COVID-19 treatment trials, while RECOVER II studies long-term effects (long COVID) 1, 2
- Geography: RECOVER I was primarily European-based, while RECOVER II is U.S.-based 1, 2
- Study Design: RECOVER I was part of an interventional randomized controlled trial platform, while RECOVER II is an observational cohort study 1, 2
- Timeline: RECOVER I began earlier in the pandemic (2020) focusing on immediate treatment needs, while RECOVER II addresses the longer-term sequelae of COVID-19 1, 2
- Funding: RECOVER I was funded through EU's HORIZON2020 program, while RECOVER II appears to be a U.S. initiative 1, 2
Clinical Implications
- Both studies contribute valuable but different information to our understanding of COVID-19 1, 2
- RECOVER I helped establish evidence-based acute treatments for hospitalized COVID-19 patients 1
- RECOVER II aims to inform public health responses to long COVID, spur clinical trials, and expand treatment options for those suffering from persistent symptoms 2
- Together, these studies represent the evolution of COVID-19 research from acute management to understanding long-term consequences 1, 2