Persistent fatigue following SARS-CoV-2 infection is common and independent of severity of initial infection

Fatigue is a common symptom in those presenting with symptomatic COVID-19 infection. However, it is unknown if COVID-19 results in persistent fatigue in those recovered from acute infection. We examined the prevalence of fatigue in individuals recovered from the acute phase of COVID-19 illness using the Chalder Fatigue Score (CFQ-11). We further examined potential predictors of fatigue following COVID-19 infection, evaluating indicators of COVID-19 severity, markers of peripheral immune activation and circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Of 128 participants (49.5 ± 15 years; 54% female), more than half reported persistent fatigue (67/128; 52.3%) at median of 10 weeks after initial COVID-19 symptoms. There…

• W
  Wellcome

  Award: 203930/B/16/Z
• CI
  Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics

  Award: 203930/B/16/Z
• WT
  Wellcome Trust

  Awards: 203930/B/16/Z, 203930
• HR
  Health Research Board

  Award: 203930/B/16/Z
• HS
  Health Service Executive

  Award: 203930/B/16/Z
• SF
  Science Foundation Ireland

  Award: 20/SPP/3685