Chronic COVID-19 Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) following the first pandemic wave in Germany - a first analysis of a prospective observational study
| Item Type: | Preprint |
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| Title: | Chronic COVID-19 Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) following the first pandemic wave in Germany - a first analysis of a prospective observational study |
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| Creators Name: | Kedor, C. and Freitag, H. and Meyer-Arndt, L. and Wittke, K. and Zoller, t. and Steinbeis, F. and Haffke, M. and Gordon, R. and Heidecker, B. and Volk, H.D. and Skurk, C. and Paul, F. and Bellmann-Strobl, J. and Scheibenbogen, C. |
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| Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: Characterization of the clinical features of patients with persistent symptoms after mild to moderate COVID-19 infection and exploration of factors associated with the development of Chronic COVID-19 Syndrome (CCS). METHODS: Setting: Charité Fatigue Center with clinical immunologists and rheumatologist, neurologists and cardiologists at Charité University hospital. Participants: 42 patients who presented with persistent moderate to severe fatigue six months following a mostly mild SARS-CoV-2 infection at the Charité Fatigue Center from July to November 2020. Main outcome measures: The primary outcomes were clinical and paraclinical data and meeting diagnostic criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Relevant neurological and cardiopulmonary morbidity was excluded. RESULTS: The median age was 36.5, range 22–62, 29 patients were female and 13 male. At six months post acute COVID-19 all patients had fatigue (Chalder Fatigue Score median 25 of 33, range 14–32), the most frequent other symptoms were post exertional malaise (n=41), cognitive symptoms (n=40), headache (n=38), and muscle pain (n=35). Most patients were moderately to severely impaired in daily live with a median Bell disability score of 50 (range 15–90) of 100 (healthy) and Short Form 36 (SF-36) physical function score of 63 (range 15-80) of 100. 19 of 42 patients fulfilled the 2003 Canadian Consensus Criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). These patients reported more fatigue in the Chalder Fatigue Score (p=0.006), more stress intolerance (p=0.042) and more frequent and longer post exertional malaise (PEM) (p=0.003), and hypersensitivity to noise (p=0.029), light (p=0.0143) and temperature (p=0.024) compared to patients not meeting ME/CFS criteria. Handgrip force was diminished in most patients compared to healthy control values, and lower in CCS/CFS compared to non-CFS CCS (Fmax1 p=0.085, Fmax2, p=0.050, Fmean1 p=0.043, Fmean2 p=0.034, mean of 10 repeat handgrips, 29 female patients). Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency was observed frequently (22% of all patients) and elevated IL-8 levels were found in 43% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic COVID-19 Syndrome at months 6 is a multisymptomatic frequently debilitating disease fulfilling diagnostic criteria of ME/CFS in about half of the patients in our study. Research in mechanisms and clinical trials are urgently needed. |
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| Keywords: | COVID-19, Chronic COVID-19 Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, SARS-CoV-2, Long-COVID-19 |
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| Source: | medRxiv |
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| Publisher: | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press |
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| Article Number: | 2021.02.06.21249256 |
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| Date: | 8 February 2021 |
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| Official Publication: | https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.02.06.21249256 |
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