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. 2023 Feb;13(2):e2849.
doi: 10.1002/brb3.2849. Epub 2023 Jan 9.

Fatigue after COVID-19 in non-hospitalized patients according to sex

Iwona Mazurkiewicz  1 , Zaneta Chatys-Bogacka  1   2 , Joanna Slowik  3 , Alicja Klich-Raczka  4   5 , Malgorzata Fedyk-Lukasik  4 , Agnieszka Slowik  1   2 , Marcin Wnuk  1   2 , Leszek Drabik  6   7
Affiliations

Fatigue after COVID-19 in non-hospitalized patients according to sex

Iwona Mazurkiewicz et al. Brain Behav. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: COVID-19; fatigue; long covid; sex.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow chart showing the steps to create the questionnaire to assess the neuropsychological complications of COVID‐19
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Risk of fatigue symptoms after COVID‐19 in women compared to men. OR, odds ratio
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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