Marcin Wnuk

Objective To evaluate course of quality of life (QoL) after hospitalization due to COVID‐19 and to assess whether symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were its predictors at different time points. Methods Participants aged 18 or older retrospectively reported QoL at work with 4‐point Likert scale and presence of eight CFS symptoms before infection, within 0–4, 4–12, and > 12 weeks post‐COVID with online or paper version of validated neuropsychological questionnaire. Results Two hundred and eighty‐three patients (median age 59 [47–67] years, 37.45% women, 95.76% non‐ICU residents) were evaluated after median of 27.1 (24.9–31.6) weeks from first positive swab test for SARS‐CoV‐2. Any decrease in QoL at work was observed in 33.21%, 29.28%, and 25.54% of patients within 4, 4–12, and > 12 weeks after COVID‐19, respectively ( p < 0.001). Within 4 weeks after COVID‐19 onset, decrease in QoL at work was predicted by age (OR = 0.93, 95% CI:0.90–0.96, p < 0.001), persistent fatigue unrelated to effort (OR = 4.03, 95% CI:1.21–13.50, p < 0.001), sore throat (OR = 5.33, 95% CI:1.92–14.78, p = 0.001), and prolonged post‐exercise fatigue (OR = 8.12, 95% CI:2.17–30.56, p = 0.002). Predictors of deterioration in QoL at work 4–12 and > 12 weeks post‐infection were age (OR = 0.97, 95% CI:0.94–0.99, p = 0.015 and OR = 0.93, 95% CI:0.90–0.97, p = 0.001, respectively), non‐restorative sleep (OR = 2.75, 95% CI:1.25–6.05, p = 0.012 and OR = 3.62, 95% CI:1.40–9.38, p = 0.008, respectively), and headache (OR = 2.78, 95% CI:1.29–5.99, p = 0.009 and OR = 5.68, 95% CI:2.15–15.02, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, decreased QoL at work was predicted by post‐exercise fatigue (OR = 5.99, 95% CI:2.18–16.20, p < 0.001) and fatigue not caused by effort (OR = 14.40, 95% CI:4.77–43.45, p < 0.001) within 4–12 and > 12 weeks post‐infection, respectively. Conclusions Different CFS symptoms are associated with decreased QoL at work at various time points since COVID‐19 onset.

Background Limited evidence exists on sex differences in post‐COVID fatigue among non‐hospitalized patients. Therefore, aim of the study was to evaluate the course of chronic fatigue symptoms in non‐hospitalized subjects with the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, according to sex. Methods Patients and staff from the University Hospital in Krakow anonymously and retrospectively completed neuropsychological questionnaire that included eight symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. The presence of these symptoms was assessed before COVID‐19 and 0–4, 4–12, and >12 weeks postinfection. The inclusion criteria were as follows: age 18 or more years, >12 weeks since the onset of the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, and diagnosis confirmed by the RT‐PCR from anasopharyngeal swab. Results We included 303 patients (79.53% women, 47.52% medical personnel) assessed retrospectively after a median of 30 (interquartile range: 23–35) weeks since the onset of symptoms. A higher prevalence of at least one chronic fatigue symptom was found in females in all time intervals after the onset of COVID‐19 compared to males ( p < .036). Women, compared to men, more often experienced persistent fatigue, not caused by effort and persisting after rest (for <4 weeks, odds ratio [OR] = 2.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13–4.73; for 4–12 weeks, OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.06–3.61), non‐restorative sleep (for <4 weeks, OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.23–3.81; for >12 weeks, OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.03–3.71), and sore throat (for <4 weeks, OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.03–3.78; for 4–12 weeks, OR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.05–7.27). Sex differences in headache, arthralgia, and prolonged postexercise fatigue were observed only during the first 4 weeks (OR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.45–4.60, OR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.02–8.64, and OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.01–3.51, respectively). There were no differences between women and men in myalgia and self‐reported lymph node enlargement. Conclusions The course of post‐COVID fatigue differs significantly between sexes in non‐hospitalized individuals with COVID‐19, with women more often suffering from persistent fatigue, not caused by effort and persisting after rest, non‐restorative sleep, and sore throat.