Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40978825›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

Exploration of Intersections and Divergences of Long COVID and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Joao A Kouyoumdjian, Leticia A Yamamoto, Carla R Graca

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Joao A KouyoumdjianNeurological Sciences, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine of Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Sao Paulo, BRA.
Leticia A YamamotoNeurological Sciences, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine of Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Sao Paulo, BRA.
Carla R GracaNeurological Sciences, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine of Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Sao Paulo, BRA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFatigue is the most common symptom of Long COVID (LC), defined by persistent or newly emerging symptoms that develop at least three months after an initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, in the absence of other identifiable cause. This study investigates the prevalence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) as a potential comorbidity of LC.

methodsThe study enrolled 37 adult controls with no documented SARS-CoV-2 infection and 32 individuals with a history of infection, categorized as LC-yes (with LC symptoms) and LC-no (without LC symptoms). ME/CFS diagnosis was based on the International Consensus Criteria (ICC).

resultsAmong LC-yes cases, the most frequently reported symptoms included post-exertional malaise (PEM); neurosensory, perceptual, or motor disturbances; cognitive impairment; sleep disturbances; pain; impaired thermoregulation; and flu-like symptoms, all occurring significantly more than in the LC-no or control groups. All individuals in the LC-yes group reported PEM. ME/CFS was diagnosed in three LC-yes cases (18.8%), one LC-no case (6.7%), and four control subjects (10.8%), with no statistically significant differences observed among groups. Experiencing more than six symptoms during acute infection, such as fatigue, loss of taste or smell, headache, fever, cough, myalgia, sore throat, shortness of breath, rhinorrhea, and diarrhea, was associated with a twofold higher risk of developing LC.

conclusionA substantial proportion of LC-yes individuals experienced PEM; neurosensory, perceptual, or motor disturbances; cognitive impairment; and sleep disturbances, with rates significantly exceeding those in the LC-no and control groups. Nevertheless, only a minority of LC-yes cases (18.8%) satisfied criteria for the ME/CFS, and the prevalence did not significantly differ from LC-no and controls. These findings suggest that while many symptoms of LC overlap with those of ME/CFS, only a subset of LC cases meet established ME/CFS diagnostic criteria.

Indexed as

chronic fatigue syndromefatiguelong covidmyalgic encephalomyelitissars-cov-2

Identifiers

PMID40978825
PMCPMC12448662

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.