Post-COVID-19 fatigue: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

<b>Aim: </b>To evaluate the prevalence of post-infection fatigue (PVFS) over one year after COVID-19.<br /> <b>Material and methods: </b>165 people who had COVID-19 more than a year ago were interviewed. A Fatigue Assessment Scale was used to assess the degree of fatigue. Chemiluminescent analysis was carried out to detect antibodies to Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) antigens. For statistical analysis Fisher's exact test and Spearman correlation were conducted.<br /> <b>Results: </b>Among people with PVFS, there were 4.1 times more women than men (80.4% vs. 19.6%), people over 45 years old (76%), and people who needed hospitalization for COVID-19 (76%). The average fatigue duration was 573±18,3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; days. Among individuals without PVFS, there were significantly more individuals under the age of 45 compared with the group of individuals with PVFS (40% and 24%, respectively, p=0.007) and there were significantly more individuals who did not need hospitalization compared with the group of individuals with PVFS (52% vs. 24%, p=0.005). EBV reactivation was determined in almost half of the individuals with PVFS (48%), while none of the individuals without PVFS had EBV reactivation. A statistically significant negative mean correlation was found between the duration of PVFS and the severity of PVFS (r=-0.357, p=0.007). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the PVFS duration and the PVFS severity (r=-0.357, p=0.007).<br /> <b>Conclusion: </b>PVFS is a prevalent symptom after COVID-19. The duration of PVFS can reach and not be limited to 1.5 years. PVFS is more typical of women, people over 45 years of age and people who have had moderate and severe COVID-19.&nbsp; Over time, the severity of PVFS decreases.<br /> <b>Key words: </b>COVID-19, post-infection fatigue, Epstein-Barr virus