Self-reported fatigue in people with post COVID-19: impact on functioning in daily life, and associated factors - a cross-sectional study.
Christina Brogårdh, Elisabeth Ekstrand, Agneta Malmgren Fänge and 3 others
PMID 39404456WHAT IT FOUND
Most people with post-COVID-19 reported severe physical and mental fatigue that disrupted daily life.
Lower work ability and reduced aerobic capacity were strongly linked to higher fatigue. Being a woman and younger age were also associated with greater fatigue, while many did not report exercise worsening their symptoms.
Key findings
0187% of participants met the threshold for physical fatigue and 84% for mental fatigue, with fatigue rated as one of the three most disabling symptoms by 83%.
02Lower perceived work ability and lower perceived aerobic capacity were the strongest factors associated with increased odds of experiencing both physical and mental fatigue.
03While most reported exercise brought on fatigue, 26% stated that exercise did not worsen their fatigue, challenging the assumption that all post-COVID patients experience post-exertional malaise.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Recruitment via social media led to a sample that was predominantly women (88%), highly educated (72%), and not hospitalized (85%), which may not represent the broader post-COVID population, particularly men, those with lower education, or those with severe acute illness. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality; it only identifies associations between factors and fatigue. Participants did not require laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection, relying instead on self-reported symptoms. The study did not assess other potential contributors to fatigue such as depression, anxiety, or specific cognitive impairments beyond mental fatigue scales.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that all post-COVID patients experience post-exertional malaise. While fatigue is common, 26% of participants reported that exercise did not worsen their symptoms. Applying a strict 'no exercise' rule to all patients may unnecessarily restrict rehabilitation for those who can tolerate physical activity.