open access

Vol 57, No 1 (2023)
Research Paper
Submitted: 2023-02-07
Accepted: 2023-02-16
Published online: 2023-02-22
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Course of fatigue among patients previously hospitalised due to COVID-19

Iwona Mazurkiewicz12, Żaneta Chatys-Bogacka12, Joanna Słowik3, Magdalena Zdanecka4, Andżelika Siwiec-Koźlik56, Agnieszka Słowik12, Leszek Drabik78, Marcin Wnuk12
·
Pubmed: 36810758
·
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2023;57(1):101-110.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Neurology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
  2. Department of Neurology, University Hospital in Krakow, Poland
  3. Department of Periodontology, Preventive Dentistry and Oral Medicine, Institute of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
  4. Clinical Department of Gynaecological Endocrinology and Gynaecology, University Hospital in Krakow, Poland
  5. Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
  6. Rheumatology and Immunology Clinical Department, University Hospital in Krakow, Poland
  7. Department of Pharmacology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
  8. John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland

open access

Vol 57, No 1 (2023)
RESEARCH PAPERS — LEADING TOPIC
Submitted: 2023-02-07
Accepted: 2023-02-16
Published online: 2023-02-22

Abstract

Introduction. Discrepancies exist regarding the clinical course and prognostic factors for post-COVID fatigue. Therefore, our aim was to assess the timely course of fatigue and its possible predictors in patients previously hospitalised due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Material and methods. Patients and employees of the University Hospital in Krakow were assessed with the use of a validated neuropsychological questionnaire. Included were participants aged 18 or more, previously hospitalised due to COVID-19, who completed questionnaires only once > 3 months after the onset of infection. Individuals were retrospectively asked about the presence of eight symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome at four timepoints: before COVID-19, within 0–4 weeks, 4–12 weeks, and > 12 weeks post-infection.

Results. We enrolled 204 patients [40.2% women, median age 58 (46–66) years] evaluated after a median of 187 (156–220) days from the first positive nasal swab test for SARS-CoV-2. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (44.61%), obesity (36.27%), smoking (28.43%), and hypercholesterolemia (21.08%); none of the patients required mechanical ventilation during hospitalisation. Before COVID-19, 43.62% of patients reported at least one symptom of chronic fatigue. Within 4, 4–12, and > 12 weeks after COVID-19, the prevalence of chronic fatigue was 76.96%, 75.49%, and 66.17%, respectively (all p < 0.001). The frequency of chronic fatigue symptoms decreased within > 12 weeks following the onset of infection but did not return to baseline values, except for self-reported lymph node enlargement. In a multivariable linear regression model, the number of fatigue symptoms was predicted by female sex [β 0.25 (0.12; 0.39), p < 0.001 and 0.26 (0.13; 0.39), p < 0.001 for weeks 0–12 and > 12, respectively], and age [for < 4 weeks, β –0.12 (–0.28; –0.01), p = 0.029].

Conclusions. Most patients previously hospitalised due to COVID-19 suffer from fatigue > 12 weeks after infection onset. The presence of fatigue is predicted by female sex and – only for the acute phase — age.

Abstract

Introduction. Discrepancies exist regarding the clinical course and prognostic factors for post-COVID fatigue. Therefore, our aim was to assess the timely course of fatigue and its possible predictors in patients previously hospitalised due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Material and methods. Patients and employees of the University Hospital in Krakow were assessed with the use of a validated neuropsychological questionnaire. Included were participants aged 18 or more, previously hospitalised due to COVID-19, who completed questionnaires only once > 3 months after the onset of infection. Individuals were retrospectively asked about the presence of eight symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome at four timepoints: before COVID-19, within 0–4 weeks, 4–12 weeks, and > 12 weeks post-infection.

Results. We enrolled 204 patients [40.2% women, median age 58 (46–66) years] evaluated after a median of 187 (156–220) days from the first positive nasal swab test for SARS-CoV-2. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (44.61%), obesity (36.27%), smoking (28.43%), and hypercholesterolemia (21.08%); none of the patients required mechanical ventilation during hospitalisation. Before COVID-19, 43.62% of patients reported at least one symptom of chronic fatigue. Within 4, 4–12, and > 12 weeks after COVID-19, the prevalence of chronic fatigue was 76.96%, 75.49%, and 66.17%, respectively (all p < 0.001). The frequency of chronic fatigue symptoms decreased within > 12 weeks following the onset of infection but did not return to baseline values, except for self-reported lymph node enlargement. In a multivariable linear regression model, the number of fatigue symptoms was predicted by female sex [β 0.25 (0.12; 0.39), p < 0.001 and 0.26 (0.13; 0.39), p < 0.001 for weeks 0–12 and > 12, respectively], and age [for < 4 weeks, β –0.12 (–0.28; –0.01), p = 0.029].

Conclusions. Most patients previously hospitalised due to COVID-19 suffer from fatigue > 12 weeks after infection onset. The presence of fatigue is predicted by female sex and – only for the acute phase — age.

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Keywords

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, fatigue, long COVID, prognosis, middle aged, neurological manifestations

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About this article
Title

Course of fatigue among patients previously hospitalised due to COVID-19

Journal

Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska

Issue

Vol 57, No 1 (2023)

Article type

Research Paper

Pages

101-110

Published online

2023-02-22

Page views

3050

Article views/downloads

745

DOI

10.5603/PJNNS.a2023.0015

Pubmed

36810758

Bibliographic record

Neurol Neurochir Pol 2023;57(1):101-110.

Keywords

COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
fatigue
long COVID
prognosis
middle aged
neurological manifestations

Authors

Iwona Mazurkiewicz
Żaneta Chatys-Bogacka
Joanna Słowik
Magdalena Zdanecka
Andżelika Siwiec-Koźlik
Agnieszka Słowik
Leszek Drabik
Marcin Wnuk

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