Gupta Arti, Rajan Vishnu, Aravindakshan Rajeev, Sirisha Pulla
Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Mangalagiri, Mangalagiri, IND.
Cureus. 2025 Mar 14;17(3):e80597. doi: 10.7759/cureus.80597. eCollection 2025 Mar.
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the enduring health burden of long COVID, scientifically termed the postacute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection or PASC. Long COVID manifests as diverse symptoms affecting multiple organ systems, significantly impacting individuals globally, and especially underrepresented rural populations. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) among laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients in rural India, focusing on identifying its predictors and the implications for healthcare systems in resource-limited settings. Methodology Retrospective data analysis was conducted on the follow-up visits of post-COVID-19 patients in the field practice area of AIIMS Mangalagiri, Nuthakki, Andhra Pradesh, India. The study involved 500 COVID-19 survivors diagnosed via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) between 2023 and 2024. Data was collected via a semi-structured questionnaire to retrieve socio-demographic and clinical parameters, while CFS severity was assessed using a validated scoring system. Multivariable logistic regression and path analysis were used to examine the associations between the predictors of CFS. Results The prevalence of CFS was seen in 107 patients (21.4%; 95% CI: 18.01-25.22). Risk factors included older age (adjusted odds ratio or aOR: 15.90 for ≥60 years), female gender (aOR: 1.90), and comorbidities (aOR: 3.92). Common symptoms observed were fatigue in 180 (36%), joint pain in 185 (37%), and muscle pain in 182 (36.4%) patients. There was no significant association between vaccination and CFS. Conclusion The study underscores the substantial burden of post-COVID fatigue in rural populations, with female patients, older adults, and those with comorbidities being at greater risk. Tailored healthcare interventions and proactive post-COVID monitoring are critical to address this challenge. Future research should explore the underlying mechanisms and assess the role of vaccination in mitigating the post-COVID sequelae.
新冠疫情凸显了长期新冠带来的持续健康负担，科学上称为严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）感染的急性后遗症或PASC。长期新冠表现为影响多个器官系统的多种症状，对全球个人，尤其是在代表性不足的农村人口中产生了重大影响。目的：本研究旨在评估印度农村地区实验室确诊的新冠患者中慢性疲劳综合征（CFS）的患病率，重点是确定其预测因素以及对资源有限环境下医疗系统的影响。方法：对印度安得拉邦努塔基市全印医学科学研究所曼加拉吉里实地实践区的新冠后患者随访进行回顾性数据分析。该研究纳入了2023年至2024年间通过逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）确诊的500名新冠幸存者。通过半结构化问卷收集社会人口统计学和临床参数数据，同时使用经过验证的评分系统评估CFS严重程度。采用多变量逻辑回归和路径分析来检验CFS预测因素之间的关联。结果：107名患者（21.4%；95%置信区间：18.01 - 25.22）出现CFS。危险因素包括老年（≥60岁调整后的优势比或aOR：15.90）、女性（aOR：1.90）和合并症（aOR：3.92）。观察到的常见症状包括180名（36%）患者疲劳、185名（37%）患者关节疼痛和182名（36.4%）患者肌肉疼痛。疫苗接种与CFS之间无显著关联。结论：该研究强调了农村人口中新冠后疲劳的巨大负担，女性患者、老年人和合并症患者风险更高。定制化的医疗干预和积极的新冠后监测对于应对这一挑战至关重要。未来研究应探索潜在机制并评估疫苗接种在减轻新冠后遗症方面的作用。
