A new study reveals a potential connection between COVID-19 infection and the development of Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Researchers found a significantly higher rate of ME/CFS among individuals who had contracted COVID-19 compared to those who remained uninfected.
A recent study funded by the US National Institutes of Health investigated the potential link between COVID-19 infection and the development of Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome ( ME/CFS ). The study included 11,785 participants, all of whom were free from pre-existing ME/CFS at the start of the research. Notably, most participants had also received vaccination against COVID-19 . At the conclusion of the study, 4.
5% of participants who had experienced a COVID-19 infection met the established criteria for ME/CFS. This diagnosis typically involves persistent fatigue lasting at least six months, accompanied by other symptoms such as post-exertional malaise (worsening symptoms after physical activity), cognitive impairment, unrefreshing sleep, or orthostatic intolerance (symptoms triggered by standing, including low blood pressure and increased heart rate). The authors suggest that ME/CFS following COVID-19 may represent a particularly severe subset of long COVID patients. However, they emphasize the need for further research to differentiate between these two diagnoses, as both conditions exhibit significant variability among individuals. While 4.5% may appear relatively low, it represents a substantial increase compared to rates observed before 2020. Additionally, nearly 40% of infected participants reported experiencing at least one symptom associated with ME/CFS. In contrast, only 0.6% of uninfected participants met the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS. Post-exertional malaise was the most prevalent symptom reported by all participants with ME/CFS, followed by orthostatic intolerance. The study also identified demographic factors potentially linked to an increased risk of developing ME/CFS after COVID-19 infection, such as being White, female, aged 46-65, residing in a rural area, and having a lower likelihood of vaccination or completing college. Elucidating the reasons behind this susceptibility could pave the way for novel preventative and treatment strategies for both long COVID and ME/CFS. Given the lack of known causes and cures for both conditions, and their rising prevalence, continued research is crucial
COVID-19 ME/CFS Long COVID Fatigue Post-Exertional Malaise
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