ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2021
Severe Fatigue in Long COVID: Web-Based Quantitative Follow-up Study in Members of Online Long COVID Support Groups.
Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 42 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
42 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 73 citations in OpenAlex.
- Persistent neurological manifestations in long COVID-19 syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of infection and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Improved functional exercise capacity after primary care pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with long COVID (PuRe-COVID): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial.BMJ open respiratory research · 2025Trial
- Exploring the Role of Race/Ethnicity, Metropolitan Status, and Health Insurance in Long COVID Among U.S. Adults.Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities · 2026Article
- Long COVID and Type I IFN Signature in Working-Age Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- Longitudinal relationships between changes in post-COVID mental fatigue and neuropsychiatric symptoms across distinct recovery trajectories.Inflammopharmacology · 2025Article
- Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for psychological symptoms during the final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: a feasibility study.Frontiers in digital health · 2025Article
- Defining and measuring long COVID fatigue: a scoping review.BMJ open · 2024Article
- Efficacy of Donepezil for Fatigue and Psychological Symptoms in Post-COVID-19 Condition: Study Protocol for a Multicenter Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Trial.Annals of clinical epidemiology · 2024Article
- Best Practices for Designing and Testing Behavioral and Health Communication Interventions for Delivery in Private Facebook Groups: Tutorial.JMIR formative research · 2024Article
- Long Neurocognitive and Neuropsychiatric Sequelae in Participants with Post-COVID-19 Infection: A Longitudinal Study.Neurology international · 2024Article
- Changes in Working Situations of Employed Long COVID Patients: Retrospective Study in Japanese Outpatient Clinic.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Neurocognitive and Neuropsychiatric Sequelae in Long COVID-19 Infection.Brain sciences · 2024Article
- Understanding Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Used in Adult Survivors Experiencing Long-Term Effects After COVID-19 Infection: A Rapid Review.Journal of patient-centered research and reviews · 2024Review
- Article
- Physical condition and perceived fatigue in post-covid patients: An observational descriptive study.Sao Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicina · 2024Observational
- Fatigue and physical activity levels in poles living in Poland and the United Kingdom in the further year of the COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot study.BMC public health · 2023Article
- Evaluation of Primary Allied Health Care in Patients Recovering From COVID-19 at 6-Month Follow-up: Dutch Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2023Observational
- Randomised, controlled, open-label pragmatic trial evaluating changes in functional exercise capacity after primary careBMJ open · 2023Article
- Physical activity levels respiratory and peripheral muscle strength and pulmonary function in young post-COVID-19 patients : A cross-sectional study.Wiener klinische Wochenschrift · 2023Article
- Epidemiology, Symptomatology, and Risk Factors for Long COVID Symptoms: Population-Based, Multicenter Study.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
16 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFatigue 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.
objectiveThe 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.
methodsA 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.
resultsA 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.
conclusionsFatigue 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 registrationNetherlands Trial Register NTR8705; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/8705.
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