Long-Term Symptoms of Post-COVID Syndrome Persist for Over 20 Months, Severe Cases Linked to ME/CFS: Study
Over two years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the long-term symptoms associated with post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome, also known as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) or long COVID, continue to persist. These persistent symptoms have been added to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes by the World Health Organization (WHO).
A recent study published in the EClinicalMedicine Journal sheds light on the long-term implications of post-COVID syndrome (PCS) on health and well-being. Researchers evaluated a prospective observation cohort of patients with PCS for a period of 20 months to assess their symptom severity and clinical biomarkers.
PCS encompasses a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, myalgia, headaches, dyspnea, and exertion intolerance, with some cases also exhibiting orthostatic disturbance, cognitive impairments, and neurological symptoms. These symptoms often manifest within three months after recovering from COVID-19, even in individuals who experienced mild to moderate infections.
The study recruited patients based on confirmed diagnoses of a previous mild to moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection, along with exertion intolerance, post-exertional malaise, and persistent fatigue. Patients with preexisting respiratory, cardiac, psychiatric, neurological conditions, or COVID-19-related organ dysfunction were excluded.
The findings revealed that patients with PCS-associated myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) experienced persistent, severe symptoms for nearly 20 months after their SARS-CoV-2 infection. On the other hand, PCS patients without ME/CFS showed improvements in their overall health over time.
Both groups of PCS patients experienced post-exertional malaise and fatigue, although these symptoms were more pronounced in PCS cases with ME/CFS. Inflammatory biomarkers decreased with time in both groups, but antinuclear antibodies remained high.
Diminished hand grip strength was associated with the persistence of PCS symptoms, particularly in patients with ME/CFS. PCS patients with ME/CFS also reported more severe symptoms related to emotional well-being and social functioning.
The study emphasizes that post-exertional malaise remains a hallmark of PCS and is indicative of a poor prognosis. The findings suggest that fatigue and post-exertional malaise persist for more than 20 months in most cases of PCS, and the presence of ME/CFS can help in monitoring and managing patients with persistently severe symptoms.
This study provides valuable insights into the long-term effects of PCS and the increased severity of symptoms in cases associated with ME/CFS. Healthcare professionals can utilize this information to better understand and support individuals experiencing post-COVID syndrome, ultimately improving their quality of life.
