REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED Research Institute, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Department of Research and Development, Ciro, Horn, Netherlands.
J Med Internet Res. 2021 Sep 21;23(9):e30274. doi: 10.2196/30274.
BACKGROUND: Fatigue is the most commonly reported symptom in patients with persistent complaints following COVID-19 (ie, long COVID). Longitudinal studies examining the intensity of fatigue and differentiating between physical and mental fatigue are lacking. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the severity of fatigue over time in members of online long COVID peer support groups, and (2) assess whether members of these groups experienced mental fatigue, physical fatigue, or both. METHODS: A 2-wave web-based follow-up study was conducted in members of online long COVID peer support groups with a confirmed diagnosis approximately 3 and 6 months after the onset of infectious symptoms. Demographics, COVID-19 diagnosis, received health care (from medical professionals or allied health care professionals), fatigue (Checklist Individual Strength-subscale subjective fatigue [CIS-Fatigue]; 8-56 points), and physical and mental fatigue (self-constructed questions; 3-21 points) were assessed. Higher scores indicated more severe fatigue. A CIS-Fatigue score ≥36 points was used to qualify patients as having severe fatigue. RESULTS: A total of 239 patients with polymerase chain reaction/computed tomography-confirmed COVID-19 completed the survey 10 weeks (SD 2) and 23 weeks (SD 2) after onset of infectious symptoms, respectively (T1 and T2). Of these 239 patients, 198 (82.8%) were women; 142 (59.4%) had no self-reported pre-existing comorbidities; 208 (87%) self-reported being in good health before contracting COVID-19; and 62 (25.9%) were hospitalized during acute infection. The median age was 50 years (IQR 39-56). The vast majority of patients had severe fatigue at T1 and T2 (n=204, 85.4%, and n=188, 78.7%, respectively). No significant differences were found in the prevalence of normal, mild, and severe fatigue between T1 and T2 (P=.12). The median CIS-Fatigue score was 48 points (IQR 42-53) at T1, and it decreased from T1 to T2 (median change: -2 points, IQR -7 to 3; P<.001). At T1, a median physical fatigue score of 19 points (IQR 16-20) and a median mental fatigue score of 15 points (IQR 10-17) were reported; these scores were lower at T2 for physical but not for mental fatigue (median change for physical fatigue -1 point, IQR -3 to 0, P<.001; median change for mental fatigue 0 points, IQR -3 to 3, P=.52). At the time of completing the follow-up survey, 194/239 (81.2%) and 164/239 (68.6%) of all patients had received care from at least one medical professional and one allied health care professional, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue in members of online long COVID support groups with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis decreases from 10 to 23 weeks after onset of symptoms. Despite this, severe fatigue remains highly prevalent. Both physical and mental fatigue are present. It remains unclear whether and to what extent fatigue will resolve spontaneously in the longer term. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register NTR8705; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/8705.
背景:在感染新冠病毒(COVID-19)后持续出现症状(即长新冠)的患者中,疲劳是最常见的报告症状。缺乏对疲劳强度进行纵向研究并区分身体疲劳和精神疲劳的研究。 目的:本研究的目的是:(1)评估在线长新冠同伴支持组患者的疲劳严重程度随时间的变化,以及(2)评估这些组的成员是否经历了精神疲劳、身体疲劳或两者兼而有之。 方法:在感染症状出现后约 3 个月和 6 个月时,对在线长新冠同伴支持组的成员进行了 2 波基于网络的随访研究。评估了人口统计学特征、COVID-19 诊断、接受的医疗保健(来自医疗专业人员或联合保健专业人员)、疲劳(清单个体力量亚量表主观疲劳[CIS-Fatigue];8-56 分)以及身体和精神疲劳(自我构建的问题;3-21 分)。分数越高表示疲劳越严重。CIS-Fatigue 评分≥36 分表明患者患有严重疲劳。 结果:共有 239 名经聚合酶链反应/计算机断层扫描确诊的 COVID-19 患者分别在感染症状出现后 10 周(SD 2)和 23 周(SD 2)完成了调查(T1 和 T2)。在这 239 名患者中,198 名(82.8%)为女性;142 名(59.4%)无自我报告的既往合并症;208 名(87%)自我报告在感染 COVID-19 前身体健康;62 名(25.9%)在急性感染期间住院。中位年龄为 50 岁(IQR 39-56)。绝大多数患者在 T1 和 T2 时均有严重疲劳(n=204,85.4%和 n=188,78.7%)。T1 和 T2 之间正常、轻度和重度疲劳的患病率无显著差异(P=.12)。CIS-Fatigue 评分的中位数为 48 分(IQR 42-53),从 T1 到 T2 下降(中位数变化:-2 分,IQR-7 至 3;P<.001)。在 T1 时,报告的身体疲劳中位数为 19 分(IQR 16-20),精神疲劳中位数为 15 分(IQR 10-17);在 T2 时,身体疲劳的评分较低,但精神疲劳的评分没有变化(身体疲劳中位数变化-1 分,IQR-3 至 0,P<.001;精神疲劳中位数变化 0 分,IQR-3 至 3,P=.52)。在完成随访调查时,所有患者中有 194/239(81.2%)和 164/239(68.6%)分别至少接受了一名医疗专业人员和一名联合保健专业人员的治疗。 结论:在确诊 COVID-19 的在线长新冠支持组患者中,疲劳从症状出现后的 10 周到 23 周逐渐减轻。尽管如此,严重疲劳仍然高度普遍。身体疲劳和精神疲劳都存在。疲劳是否以及在多大程度上会在长期内自行缓解尚不清楚。 试验注册:荷兰试验注册 NTR8705;https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/8705。
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