People who have had Covid-19 are more likely to develop chronic fatigue syndrome, officially known as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
That's according to a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine earlier this month, which found that 4.5% of people infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid, developed chronic fatigue.
In comparison, only 0.6% of study participants who did not have Covid developed the second condition.
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Researchers determined that ME/CFS cases were 15 times higher than pre-pandemic levels.
People who have had Covid-19 are more likely to develop chronic fatigue syndrome, officially known as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). (Istock)
“As a researcher dedicated to understanding how viral infections lead to chronic disease, I suspected from the beginning of the pandemic that SARS-CoV2 could trigger ME/CF, so these results are not surprising,” said lead study author Suzanne D. Vernon, PhD, of the Bateman Horne Center in Salt Lake City.
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The study was part of the National Institutes of Health's Recover (Covid Research to Improve Recovery) program, which aims to understand, prevent and treat Long Covid, according to an NIH news release.
The study included 11,785 participants. At least six months after they became infected with Covid, the researchers assessed whether they had developed chronic fatigue. They then compared those results with 1,439 people who did not have Covid.
Researchers determined that ME/CFS cases were 15 times higher than pre-pandemic levels. (Istock)
“There are no specific tests or biomarkers, so I am diagnosed with ME/CFS when someone has a specific constellation of symptoms,” Vernon told Fox News Digital.
“This study asked participants questions to determine what symptoms they were experiencing, which can be seen as a limitation, but is currently the approach used to diagnose ME/CFS.”
“It is well known that chronic fatigue syndrome can occur in the context of viral infections.”
Dr. Kenneth J. Perry, a South Carolina-based physician, was not surprised by the incidence of chronic fatigue after a SARS-Cov-2 infection.
“It is well known that chronic fatigue syndrome can occur in the context of viral infections,” Perry, who was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital.
“Given the fact that SARS-CoV-2 was a new virus at the time of the pandemic, the incidence and prevalence of such post-infection syndromes were difficult to predict.”
“It is well known that chronic fatigue syndrome can occur in the context of viral infections,” one doctor told Fox News Digital. (Istock)
The study has some limitations when trying to compare between different viruses, the doctor noted.
“Patients were required to self-report their symptoms,” he said. “This hinders the ability to compare symptoms between viruses, as the focus on Covid will increase the possibility of selection bias.”
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According to Perry, it is difficult to determine specifically how chronic fatigue occurs in the context of a viral infection.
“More studies would have to be done to determine the actual underlying pathophysiology of the disease,” he said. “Given that lack of complete understanding, it is difficult to determine how to adequately prevent the syndrome.”
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ME/CFS is a “complex, serious, and chronic condition that often occurs after an infection,” the NIH wrote.
The condition is marked by “new onset fatigue” that lasts at least six months and impairs the person's ability to participate in ordinary activities.
“There are physical and psychological components to the syndrome.”
Another symptom is “post-extraction malaise,” in which the person feels extreme fatigue after physical or mental activity, the study stated.
People with me/CFS may also experience “irrelevant sleep,” as well as cognitive impairment or dizziness when standing.
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Many of these symptoms are also associated with Long Covid, the researchers wrote.
“Chronic fatigue syndrome can be very problematic for patients,” Perry told Fox News Digital. “There are physical and psychological components to the syndrome.”
“Having a relationship with a doctor who knows your baseline activity level will ensure appropriate evaluation and intervention if there are any changes,” one doctor advised. (Istock)
Perry reiterated that patients can experience direct fatigue and a decreased ability to perform normal activities, and this can also lead to anxiety and depression due to these changes.
“It is very difficult to adequately understand the difference between chronic fatigue syndrome and … underlying psychiatric/psychological health changes,” he said. “This makes it a very difficult disease for patients to explain.”
'Urgent call to action'
Perry advised that those experiencing symptoms of chronic fatigue should contact their primary care doctor.
“Having a relationship with a doctor who knows your baseline activity level will ensure appropriate assessment and intervention if there are any changes,” he said.
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“For example, a triathlete who can no longer stay awake for the entirety of a workday would be absolutely concerning to a physician who knows that patient well. This relationship would also allow appropriate medications and therapies to be initiated earlier in the process.”
“The dramatic increase in ME/CFS cases post-CoVid-19 means that providers will encounter this condition much more frequently,” the researcher said. (Istock)
This research underscores an “urgent call to action,” Vernon said, “especially for health care providers.”
“The dramatic increase in ME/CFS cases post-Covid-19 means that providers will encounter this condition much more frequently,” he predicted.
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The researcher called for early recognition and proper management of ME/CFS, which she said can be “life-changing” for patients.
“We hope this study helps everyone understand that ME/CFS is a real, diagnosable condition that demands attention, especially in the wake of a global pandemic.”
