SynthesisBMJ open2023
Fatigue outcomes following COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMJ open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 38 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
38 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Meta-analysis of the serum/plasma proteome identifies significant associations between COVID-19 with Alzheimer's/Parkinson's diseases.Journal of neurovirology · 2024Pooled it
- Efficacy of a psychotherapeutic group intervention for patients with Post-COVID-19 condition: a randomized controlled trial (PsyLoCo study).BMC psychology · 2026Trial
- Beyond Fatigue: The Fatigue Assessment Scale as a Potential Indicator of Long COVID Severity.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Reliability and Validity of the Simple Qi Deficiency Score in Patients with Post-COVID-19 Condition.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Article
- Psychiatric symptoms of long COVID among adults: observational case-control study in Johannesburg, South Africa.BJPsych open · 2026Article
- Biopsychosocial factors associated with health-related quality of life in long COVID: a matched case-control study in primary care.BMC primary care · 2026Article
- Effects of an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program on exercise capacity, muscle fatigue, dyspnea, and functional status in post-COVID-19 patients: non-randomized clinical trial.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2026Article
- Nonlinear relationships between fatigue, fear of COVID-19, and PTSD among mental health professionals: the findings of a multi-site survey in China.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
- Risks of autoimmune and inflammatory post-acute COVID-19 conditions: a network cohort study in six European countries, the USA and Korea.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- Targeting dyspnoea through exercise intensity: insights from pulmonary rehabilitation and beyond, a narrative review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2026Review
- Clinical Improvements Following a Non-Aerobic Therapeutic Exercise in Women with Long COVID.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Blood pro-thrombotic analytes and platelet activation are associated with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Observational
- Fatigue in children and young people up to 24 months after infection with SARS-CoV-2.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Applicability and adaptation of cognitive behavior therapy for long COVID neuropsychiatric symptoms: a review with insights from ME/CFS.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Review
- Review
- Longitudinal relationships between changes in post-COVID mental fatigue and neuropsychiatric symptoms across distinct recovery trajectories.Inflammopharmacology · 2025Article
- A cross-sectional study on long covid, cognition and neurasthenia-one year post covid.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2025Article
- Association between perceived financial hardship and sleep duration among Korean adolescents.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Pandemic-disordered sleep: longer illness and more fatigue but little SARS-CoV-2 effect.ERJ open research · 2025Article
- Evolution of long COVID over two years in hospitalised and non-hospitalised survivors in Bangladesh: a longitudinal cohort study.Journal of global health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesFatigue is a pervasive clinical symptom in coronaviruses and may continue beyond the acute phase, lasting for several months or years. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to incorporate the current evidence for postinfection fatigue among survivors of SARS-CoV-2 and investigate associated factors.
methodsEmbase, PsyINFO, Medline, CINAHL, CDSR, Open Grey, BioRxiv and MedRxiv were systematically searched from January 2019 to December 2021. Eligible records included all study designs in English. Outcomes were fatigue or vitality in adults with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 measured at >30 days post infection. Non-confirmed cases were excluded. JBI risk of bias was assessed by three reviewers. Random effects model was used for the pooled proportion with 95% CIs. A mixed effects meta-regression of 35 prospective articles calculated change in fatigue overtime. Subgroup analyses explored specific group characteristics of study methodology. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q and I
resultsDatabase searches returned 14 262 records. Following deduplication and screening, 178 records were identified. 147 (n=48 466 participants) were included for the meta-analyses. Pooled prevalence was 41% (95% CI: 37% to 45%, k=147, I
conclusionThis study revealed that a significant proportion of survivors experienced fatigue following SARS-CoV-2 and their fatigue reduced overtime. Non-modifiable factors and psychological morbidity may contribute to ongoing fatigue and impede recovery. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020201247.
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