RESUMEN
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions worldwide are still struggling with persistent or recurring symptoms known as long COVID. Fatigue is one of the most prevalent symptoms associated with long COVID, and for many it can be debilitating. Understanding the potential pathological processes that link fatigue to long COVID is critical to better guide treatment. Challenges with diagnosis and treatment are reviewed, recognizing that post-COVID fatigue does not always present with corroborating clinical evidence, a situation that is frustrating for both patients and healthcare providers. Firefighters are a group of public safety workers who are particularly impacted by long COVID-related fatigue. Firefighters must be able to engage in strenuous physical activity and deal with demanding psychological situations, both of which may be difficult for those suffering from fatigue. Disruption in public safety worker health can potentially impact community welfare. This review creates a framework to explain the clinical-pathological features of fatigue resulting from long COVID, addresses diagnosis and treatment challenges, and explores the unique impact fatigue may pose for public safety workers and their organizations.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Communities of color might disproportionately experience long-term consequences of COVID-19, known as Long COVID. We sought to understand the awareness of and experiences with Long COVID among African American/Black (AA/B), Hispanic/Latino (H/L), and Indigenous (Native) adults (18 + years of age) in Arizona who previously tested positive for COVID-19. METHODS: Between December 2022 and April 2023, the Arizona Community Engagement Alliance (AZCEAL) conducted 12 focus groups and surveys with 65 AA/B, H/L and Native community members. Data from focus groups were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify emerging issues. Survey data provided demographic information about participants and quantitative assessments of Long COVID experiences were used to augment focus group data. RESULTS: Study participants across all three racial/ethnic groups had limited to no awareness of the term Long COVID, yet many described experiencing or witnessing friends and family endure physical symptoms consistent with Long COVID (e.g., brain fog, loss of memory, fatigue) as well as associated mental health issues (e.g., anxiety, worry, post-traumatic stress disorder). Participants identified a need for Long COVID mental health and other health resources, as well as increased access to Long COVID information. CONCLUSION: To prevent Long COVID health inequities among AA/B, H/L, and Native adults living in AZ, health-related organizations and providers should increase access to culturally relevant, community-based Long COVID-specific information, mental health services, and other health resources aimed at serving these populations.
RESUMEN
Introduction: Short-term clinical outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection are generally favorable. However, 15-20% of patients report persistent symptoms of at least 12 weeks duration, often referred to as long COVID. Population studies have also demonstrated an increased risk of incident diabetes and cardiovascular disease at 12 months following infection. While imaging studies have identified multi-organ injury patterns in patients with recovered COVID-19, their respective contributions to the disability and morbidity of long COVID is unclear. Methods: A multicenter, observational study of 215 vaccine-naïve patients with clinically recovered COVID-19, studied at 3-6 months following infection, and 133 healthy volunteers without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with recovered COVID-19 were screened for long COVID related symptoms and their impact on daily living. Multi-organ, multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and circulating biomarkers were acquired to document sub-clinical organ pathology. All participants underwent pulmonary function, aerobic endurance (6 min walk test), cognition testing and olfaction assessment. Clinical outcomes were collected up to 1 year from infection. The primary objective of this study is to identify associations between organ injury and disability in patients with long-COVID symptoms in comparison to controls. As a secondary objective, imaging and circulating biomarkers with the potential to exacerbate cardiovascular health were characterized. Discussion: Long-term sequelae of COVID-19 are common and can result in significant disability and cardiometabolic disease. The overall goal of this project is to identify novel targets for the treatment of long COVID including mitigating the risk of incident cardiovascular disease. Study registration: clinicaltrials.gov (MOIST late cross-sectional study; NCT04525404).
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Long COVID is defined as the persistence of COVID-19 symptoms four weeks after having undergone acute infection, according to the most recent CDC definition. It is estimated that there are 65 million people affected by this entity, although other figures speak of 200 million. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the population affected by long COVID in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients older than 18 years who agreed to answer an online survey and who met the criteria for long COVID were included. RESULTS: Data from 203 subjects were included, with 138 (68.0%) being found to be females, and average age to be 41.8 years; 29.6% had severe disease, and 70.4%, mild to moderate disease; 89.7% had received prior COVID-19 vaccination: 6.9% had received one dose; 31.5%, two doses; and 51.2%, three or more doses. The main risk factors were diabetes, overweight or obesity, and hypertension. The most commonly reported symptom was fatigue, followed by other neuropsychiatric manifestations. CONCLUSION: It is important for the population affected by long COVID to be characterized in order to generate diagnostic and treatment protocols.
ANTECEDENTES: El COVID persistente se define como la persistencia de síntomas de COVID-19 después de cuatro semanas de cursar con un cuadro agudo, según la definición más reciente de los Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Se estima que existen 65 millones de personas afectadas por esta entidad, aunque algunos reportes indican 200 millones. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar a la población afectada por COVID persistente en México. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se incluyeron pacientes mayores de 18 años que consintieron responder a una encuesta en línea y que cumplían los criterios de COVID persistente. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron los datos de 203 sujetos. Se identificó que 138 (68.0 %) contestaron ser del sexo femenino, con una media de edad de 41.8 años; 29.6 % presentó enfermedad grave y 70.4 %, enfermedad leve a moderada; 89.7 % había recibido vacunas previas para COVID-19: 6.9 %, una dosis; 31.5 %, dos dosis; y 51.2 %, tres o más dosis. Los principales factores de riesgo fueron diabetes, sobrepeso u obesidad e hipertensión arterial sistémica. El principal síntoma reportado fue fatiga, seguido de otras manifestaciones neuropsiquiátricas. CONCLUSIÓN: Es importante caracterizar a la población para generar protocolos de diagnóstico y tratamiento.
Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , Humanos , México/epidemiología , COVID-19/epidemiología , Femenino , Masculino , Adulto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de Riesgo , Síndrome Post Agudo de COVID-19 , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Adulto Joven , Anciano , Vacunas contra la COVID-19 , Obesidad/epidemiología , Obesidad/complicaciones , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The effect of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir on preventing post-COVID condition (PCC) in the BA4, BA5, and XBB Omicron predominant periods is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to assess how nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment affected both PCC and health-related quality of life. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 2,524 adults aged 18 years and older who were eligible for nirmatrelvir/ritonavir between July 14 to November 14, 2022. All outcomes were observed from the patient's first visit to the primary health clinic, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after testing positive for COVID-19. The primary outcome was the presence of PCC. Secondary outcomes included the effects on health-related quality of life, such as walking, bathing and dressing, activities, cause adverse emotions or signs that prevent individuals from leading normal lives over a 180-day observation period. RESULTS: There were no significant differences observed between the nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and those not administered (control group) in terms of PCC symptoms at 3 months (OR 0.71 95% CI 0.31, 1.64) and 6 months (OR 1.30 95% CI 0.76, 2.21). At 3 months, the use of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was associated with a 26% reduction in symptoms causing negative emotions (OR 0.74 95% CI 0.60, 0.92) and an increased likelihood of symptoms limiting walking (OR 1.58 95% CI 1.10, 2.27). However, there were no significant differences between the nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and the control group in terms of the impact of PCC on health-related quality of life at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the administration of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir does not significantly reduce PCC after 3 months and 6 months in a population with high vaccination coverage.
Asunto(s)
Tratamiento Farmacológico de COVID-19 , Calidad de Vida , Ritonavir , Humanos , Ritonavir/uso terapéutico , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Estudios Retrospectivos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Malasia/epidemiología , COVID-19/prevención & control , SARS-CoV-2 , Anciano , Antivirales/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Fatigue is one of the most common neurological symptoms reported post coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. In order to establish effective early intervention strategies, more emphasis should be placed on the correlation between fatigue and cortical neurophysiological changes, especially in healthcare workers, who are at a heightened risk of COVID-19 infection. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted involving 29 COVID-19 medical workers and 24 healthy controls. The assessment included fatigue, sleep and health quality, psychological status, and physical capacity. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was employed to detect activation of brain regions. Bilateral primary motor cortex (M1) excitabilities were measured using single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation. Outcomes were assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months into the disease course. RESULTS: At 1-month post-COVID-19 infection, 37.9% of patients experienced severe fatigue symptoms, dropping to 10.3% at 3 months. Interestingly, the remarkable decreased activation/excitability of bilateral prefrontal lobe (PFC) and M1 were closely linked to fatigue symptoms after COVID-19. Notably, greater increase in M1 region excitability correlated with more significant fatigue improvement. Re-infected patients exhibited lower levels of brain activation and excitability compared to single-infection patients. CONCLUSIONS: Both single infection and reinfection of COVID-19 lead to decreased activation and excitability of the PFC and M1. The degree of excitability improvement in the M1 region correlates with a greater recovery in fatigue. Based on these findings, targeted interventions to enhance and regulate the excitability of M1 may represent a novel strategy for COVID-19 early rehabilitation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Ethics Review Committee of Xijing Hospital, No. KY20232051-F-1; www.chictr.org.cn , ChiCTR2300068444.
Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , Fatiga , Personal de Salud , Corteza Motora , Corteza Prefrontal , Estimulación Magnética Transcraneal , Humanos , COVID-19/fisiopatología , Fatiga/fisiopatología , Masculino , Femenino , Estudios Longitudinales , Adulto , Corteza Prefrontal/fisiopatología , Corteza Prefrontal/diagnóstico por imagen , Corteza Motora/fisiopatología , Persona de Mediana Edad , SARS-CoV-2/aislamiento & purificación , Estudios Prospectivos , Espectroscopía Infrarroja Corta , Estudios de CohortesRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In the aftermath of the COVID-19 public health emergency, it is important to understand the extent of socioeconomic burdens of long COVID, defined as continuation of symptoms after initial infection, including food insecurity. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the association between long COVID and family food insecurity among low-income individuals (or any of their family members living with them) who were participants and non-participants of public food assistance programs (SNAP, WIC, and NSLP) in the United States. DESIGN: The study used an observational cross-sectional design. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Data on 7,151 adults (aged 18+ years), with family income of <200% of the Federal Poverty line, from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Level of family food security, based on responses to a set of 10 questions measuring family's food security during the past 30 days. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Multinomial logistic regression models were estimated to obtain relative risk ratios of marginal-, and low-and-very-low- food security, relative to the base outcome of high- food security, for long COVID status. Multivariable models were estimated separately for the full sample, and for sub-groups of food assistance participants and non-participants. A Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) specification was estimated to assess whether the estimates were different across the participant and non-participant sub-groups. RESULTS: Compared to individuals who never had COVID-19, the adjusted relative risks of experiencing marginal- and low-and-very-low- food security were 1.42 (95% CI: 1.00 - 2.02) and 1.43 (95% CI: 1.08 - 1.91) times higher, respectively, for individuals who had long COVID. While the adjusted risks were not observed to be statistically significant in the participant sub-group, among non-participants, adjusted relative risk ratios were 2.34 (95% CI: 1.43 - 3.82) and 1.56 (95% CI: 1.02 - 2.39), respectively. SUR results revealed that relationships between long COVID and food insecurity were only different for marginal- and not low-and-very-low- levels of food insecurity, between food assistance participant and non-participant groups. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings highlight a significantly higher risk of marginal- and low-and-very-low- food security among low-income adults who had long COVID, especially those who were non-participants of public food assistance programs. Further research is warranted to explore the causal pathways of this relationship for informing policies to mitigate the burden of long COVID.
RESUMEN
A substantial number of patients develop cognitive dysfunction after contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), significantly contributing to long-coronavirus disease (COVID) morbidity. Despite the urgent and overwhelming clinical need, there are currently no proven interventions to treat post-COVID cognitive dysfunction (PCCD). Psychostimulants like methylphenidate may enhance both noradrenergic and dopaminergic pathways in mesolimbic and pre-frontal areas, thus improving memory and cognition. We present a case series of six patients who were treated at the Johns Hopkins Post-Acute COVID-19 Team (PACT) clinic for PCCD with methylphenidate 5 - 20 mg in the context of routine clinical care and followed for 4 to 8 weeks. Baseline and post-treatment outcomes included subjective cognitive dysfunction and objective performance on a battery devised to measure cognitive dysfunction in long-COVID patients. Three out of the six patients reported subjective improvement with methylphenidate, one patient described it as "notable" and another as "marked" improvement in memory and concentration. We also found significant pre-treatment subjective complaints of cognitive dysfunction; however, formal cognitive assessment scores were not severely impaired. A statistically significant difference in pre and post scores, favoring intervention, was found for the following cognitive assessments: Hopkins verbal learning test (HVLT) immediate recall, HVLT delayed recall and category-cued verbal fluency. The current series demonstrates promising neurocognitive effects of methylphenidate for long-COVID cognitive impairment, particularly in recall and verbal fluency domains.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To determine, the impact of long COVID-19 on oculomotor behaviour. DESIGN: A case-control study. SETTING: Spanish Association of Persistent COVID. PARTICIPANT: Participants were 75 cases (64 women, 11 men, mean age 46.4 years ±8.9) and 42 controls (22 women, 20 men, mean age 53.5 years ±13.13). INTERVENTION: An eye-tracking test based on visual search paradigm and the Adult Developmental Eye Movement Test were used to evaluate the participants. MAIN MEASURES: The primary outcomes in the Adult Developmental Eye Movement Test were horizontal reading time, vertical reading time, and their ratio. And for the eye-tracking test the time to find the target, the duration, and the number of eye fixations. RESULTS: In cases and controls, eye movement test results were horizontal(Hadj) reading time 74.2 ± 22.7â s vs 52.0 ± 6.1â s (p < .0001); vertical(Vadj) reading time 67.6 ± 17.8â s vs 50.4 ± 6.9â s (p < .0001); Hadj/Vadj ratio 0.9 ± 0.1 vs 1.0 ± 0 (p = .0032), respectively; and eye-tracking test results were fixation number 11.3 ± 3.07 vs 3.51 ± 2.57 (p < .0001); fixation duration 2.01 ± 0.79â s vs 1.5 ± 0.4â s (p = .0013), and time to find target 24.5 ± 8.0 vs 18 ± 9.4 (p = .0034), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Data showed a lower performance in oculomotor behaviour in people with long COVID-19, compared to healthy individuals. It cannot be affirmed an ocular musculature dysfunction; the differentiated behaviour could be associated to cognitive alterations affected in these people. Both tests used could be an useful tool for the clinical assessment of these participants. Further studies are needed to explore the utility of these procedures.
RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of insomnia among nurses with long COVID-19, analyze the potential risk factors and establish a nomogram model. METHODS: Nurses in Ningbo, China, were recruited for this study. General demographic information and insomnia, burnout, and stress assessment scores were collected through a face-to face questionnaire survey administered at a single center from March to May 2023. We used LASSO regression to identify potential factors contributing to insomnia. Then, a nomogram was plotted based on the model chosen to visualize the results and evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves and calibration curves. RESULTS: A total of 437 nurses were recruited. 54% of the nurses had insomnia according to the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score. Eleven variables, including family structure, years of work experience, relaxation time, respiratory system sequelae, nervous system sequelae, others sequelae, attitudes toward COVID-19, sleep duration before infection, previous sleep problems, stress, and job burnout, were independently associated with insomnia. The R-squared value was 0.464, and the area under the curve was 0.866. The derived nomogram showed that neurological sequelae, stress, job burnout, sleep duration before infection, and previous sleep problems contributed the most to insomnia. The calibration curves showed significant agreement between the nomogram models and actual observations. CONCLUSION: This study focused on insomnia among nurses with long COVID-19 and identified eleven risk factors related to nurses' insomnia. A nomogram model was established to illustrate and visualize these factors, which will be instrumental in future research for identifying nurses with insomnia amid pandemic normalization and may increase awareness of the health status of healthcare workers with long COVID-19.
RESUMEN
Importance: Acupuncture has been used to treat neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms in China and other parts of the world. These symptoms, such as fatigue, headache, cognitive impairment, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, are common in people experiencing long COVID. Objective: This study aims to explore the feasibility of acupuncture in the treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms in long COVID patients. Data Sources: A systematic search was conducted in four English and four Chinese databases from inception to 23 June 2023. Literature selection and data extraction were conducted by two pairs of independent reviewers. Study Selection: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that explored the effect of acupuncture on fatigue, depression, anxiety, cognitive abnormalities, headache, and insomnia were included. Data Extraction and Synthesis: RCTs that explored the effect of acupuncture on fatigue, depression, anxiety, cognitive abnormalities, headache, and insomnia were included. A meta-analysis was performed using R software. Heterogeneity was measured using I2. Subgroup analyses were performed focusing on the duration of treatment and acupuncture modalities. The systematic review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42022354940). Main outcomes and measures: Widely adopted clinical outcome scales included the Fatigue Scale for assessing fatigue, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale for evaluating depression, the Mini-Mental State Examination for assessing cognitive impairment, the Visual Analog Scale for headache severity, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for measuring insomnia. Results: A total of 110 RCTs were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Overall, acupuncture was found to improve the scores of the Fatigue Scale (vs. medication: mean differences (MD): -2.27, P < 0.01; vs. sham acupuncture: MD: -3.36, P < 0.01), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (vs. medication: MD: -1.62, 95%, P < 0.01; vs. sham acupuncture: MD: -9.47, P < 0.01), the Mini-Mental State Examination (vs. medication: MD: 1.15, P < 0.01; vs. sham acupuncture: MD: 1.20, P < 0.01), the Visual Analog Scale (vs. medication: MD: -1.05, P < 0.01; vs. waitlist: MD: -0.48, P=0.04), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (vs. medication: MD: -2.33, P < 0.01; vs. sham acupuncture: MD: -4.19, P < 0.01). Conclusion and relevance: This systematic review suggested acupuncture as a potentially beneficial approach for the treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms, as assessed using clinical scales, and it may have applicability in long COVID patients. Further well-designed clinical studies specifically targeting long COVID patients are needed to validate the role of acupuncture in alleviating long COVID symptoms. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier [CRD42022354940].
RESUMEN
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to a global health crisis. Long COVID refers to a debilitating condition characterized by severe symptoms that may arise after the initial acute phase of COVID-19. Significant attention has been directed toward the acute phase of the respiratory system while overshadowing the understanding and management of long-term complications, often referred to as "long COVID." This case focuses on a 19-year-old female who experienced the multisystemic manifestation of COVID-19 syndrome several months after the initial infection, spanning cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, central nervous system, and multi-skeletal domains. This study aims to describe the patient's experience and recovery process with a specific emphasis on the long COVID experience.
RESUMEN
Background: Long COVID is an emerging global public health issue. Socially vulnerable communities in low- and-middle-income countries were severely impacted by the pandemic and are underrepresented in research. This prospective study aimed to determine the prevalence of long COVID, its impact on health, and associated risk factors in one such community in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: A total of 710 individuals aged 18 and older, with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection at least three months prior, were enrolled between November 25, 2021, and May 5, 2022. Participants were assessed via telephone or in person using a standardized questionnaire to evaluate their perception of recovery, symptoms, quality of life, and functional status. Findings: Twenty percent of participants did not feel fully recovered, 22% experienced new or persistent symptoms, 26% had worsened functional status, 18% had increased dyspnoea, and 32% reported a worse quality of life. Persistent symptoms included headache, cough, fatigue, muscle pain, and shortness of breath. Dyspnoea during the acute phase was the strongest independent predictor of worsening outcomes. Females and individuals with comorbidities were more likely to report worse recovery, functioning, dyspnoea, and quality of life. Interpretation: Our findings reveal a high burden of severe and persistent physical and mental health sequelae in a socially vulnerable community following COVID-19. Funding: UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Wellcome Trust Grant (222048/Z/20/Z), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
RESUMEN
Suicide is a significant public health problem around the world. More than 90% of individuals who die by suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder, and most persons who attempt suicide also have a psychiatric illness. Depression, anxiety, posttraumatic symptoms, sleep disturbances, decreased energy, and cognitive abnormalities are the most frequently reported psychiatric symptoms of long COVID. All these conditions are associated with suicidal ideation and behavior. Therefore, individuals with long COVID may be at increased risk of suicide. Recent studies of patients with long COVID confirm that individuals with long COVID are at increased suicide risk. It is vital to educate clinicians taking care of long COVID individuals that patients with long COVID may be suicidal, that it is essential to screen patients with long COVID for suicidality, and if needed, suicide prevention interventions should be employed.
Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Suicidio , Humanos , COVID-19/psicología , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/complicaciones , Suicidio/psicología , Suicidio/estadística & datos numéricos , SARS-CoV-2/patogenicidad , Ideación Suicida , Factores de Riesgo , Prevención del Suicidio , Síndrome Post Agudo de COVID-19 , Depresión/psicología , Depresión/epidemiología , Ansiedad/psicología , Ansiedad/epidemiología , Trastornos Mentales/psicología , Trastornos Mentales/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
It is well established that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on ethnic minority communities and has worsened existing health inequalities experienced by these populations globally. Individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds have not only been more likely to become infected with COVID-19 throughout the pandemic, but they have also higher risk of adverse symptoms and death following infection. Factors responsible for these discrepancies are wide reaching and encompass all aspects of the social determinants of health (SDoH). Although always an area of concern among healthcare professionals, barriers to health care experienced by ethnic minority populations became a more pertinent issue during the COVID-19 pandemic when all individuals required sufficient and sustained access to a healthcare system (whether this be for COVID-19 testing, vaccination or treatment). These healthcare barriers exacerbated the increased COVID-19 burden experienced by minority populations and will continue to detrimentally impact the health of these populations during future COVID-19 waves or indeed, future novel pandemics. This chapter aims to summarise the major healthcare barriers experienced by minority populations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including COVID-19 prevention, vaccine rollout, care during hospitalisation and post-COVID care for long COVID patients. To end, this chapter will summarise lessons learned and future directions that need to be taken to improve health disparities and healthcare access for minority populations in relation to the COVID pandemic and beyond.
Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , Minorías Étnicas y Raciales , Accesibilidad a los Servicios de Salud , Disparidades en Atención de Salud , SARS-CoV-2 , Determinantes Sociales de la Salud , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/prevención & control , COVID-19/terapia , Vacunas contra la COVID-19/uso terapéutico , Etnicidad , Grupos Minoritarios/estadística & datos numéricos , Pandemias/prevención & controlRESUMEN
Fatigue is prevalent amongst people with long COVID, but is poorly understood. The sensory attenuation framework proposes that impairments in sensory processing lead to heightened perception of effort, driving fatigue. This study aims to investigate the role of somatosensory processing impairments in long COVID fatigue and quantify how sensory processing relates to other prominent symptoms of long COVID including autonomic dysfunction, mood and illness beliefs in driving the experience of fatigue. We will recruit 44 individuals with long COVID fatigue and 44 individuals with neither long COVID nor fatigue (controls). Our primary objective is to compare baseline somatosensory processing between individuals with long COVID fatigue and controls. Additionally, we will explore the associations between somatosensory processing, fatigability and the level of fatigue induced by cognitive and physical exertion. Due to the complex nature of fatigue, we will also investigate how long COVID, state fatigue, perceived effort, mood, illness beliefs, autonomic symptoms and autonomic nervous system function interact to predict trait fatigue. This comprehensive investigation aims to elucidate how sensory processing and other prominent symptoms interact to impact the experience of fatigue.