Long-COVID fatigue is not predicted by pre-pandemic plasma IL-6 levels in mild COVID-19.
Inflamm Res
; 72(5): 947-953, 2023 May.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36995412
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN:
Fatigue is a prominent symptom in the general population and may follow viral infection, including SARS-CoV2 infection which causes COVID-19. Chronic fatigue lasting more than three months is the major symptom of the post-COVID syndrome (known colloquially as long-COVID). The mechanisms underlying long-COVID fatigue are unknown. We hypothesized that the development of long-COVID chronic fatigue is driven by the pro-inflammatory immune status of an individual prior to COVID-19. SUBJECTS ANDMETHODS:
We analyzed pre-pandemic plasma levels of IL-6, which plays a key role in persistent fatigue, in N = 1274 community dwelling adults from TwinsUK. Subsequent COVID-19-positive and -negative participants were categorized based on SARS-CoV-2 antigen and antibody testing. Chronic fatigue was assessed using the Chalder Fatigue Scale.RESULTS:
COVID-19-positive participants exhibited mild disease. Chronic fatigue was a prevalent symptom among this population and significantly higher in positive vs. negative participants (17% vs 11%, respectively; p = 0.001). The qualitative nature of chronic fatigue as determined by individual questionnaire responses was similar in positive and negative participants. Pre-pandemic plasma IL-6 levels were positively associated with chronic fatigue in negative, but not positive individuals. Raised BMI was associated with chronic fatigue in positive participants.CONCLUSIONS:
Pre-existing increased IL-6 levels may contribute to chronic fatigue symptoms, but there was no increased risk in individuals with mild COVID-19 compared with uninfected individuals. Elevated BMI also increased the risk of chronic fatigue in mild COVID-19, consistent with previous reports.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Inflamm Res
Journal subject:
ALERGIA E IMUNOLOGIA
/
PATOLOGIA
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: