Predictors of fatigue progression in long COVID among young people

Long COVID, or post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), has emerged as a significant health concern, with fatigue being the most prevalent persistent symptom among young people. However, research on predictors of fatigue progression in young populations is limited. This study aimed to investigate factors duri...

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Main Authors: Elias Myrstad Brodwall, Joel Selvakumar, Lise Beier Havdal, Silke Sommen, Lise Lund Berven, Erin Cvejic, Vegard Bruun Bratholm Wyller, Maria Pedersen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354625000407
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author Elias Myrstad Brodwall
Joel Selvakumar
Lise Beier Havdal
Silke Sommen
Lise Lund Berven
Erin Cvejic
Vegard Bruun Bratholm Wyller
Maria Pedersen
author_facet Elias Myrstad Brodwall
Joel Selvakumar
Lise Beier Havdal
Silke Sommen
Lise Lund Berven
Erin Cvejic
Vegard Bruun Bratholm Wyller
Maria Pedersen
author_sort Elias Myrstad Brodwall
collection DOAJ
description Long COVID, or post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), has emerged as a significant health concern, with fatigue being the most prevalent persistent symptom among young people. However, research on predictors of fatigue progression in young populations is limited. This study aimed to investigate factors during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection that could predict fatigue progression between six and 12 months post-infection in a cohort of young people with chronic fatigue following COVID-19. Data from the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 in Adolescents (LoTECA) project were analyzed. A total of 93 participants (mean age 18.5 years, 84 % female) with chronic fatigue at six months, completed the 12-month follow-up. Multivariate analyses identified non-European ethnicity, higher interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels, and lower RR-interval (higher resting heart rate) during acute infection as significant predictors of fatigue progression from six to 12 months. These three factors explained 21 % of the variance in the fatigue score, highlighting the importance of ethnicity, immune response, and autonomic function in the trajectory of long COVID fatigue. Early identification and targeted interventions, particularly for ethnic minorities and those with specific immune or autonomic markers during acute infection, may be helpful in reducing long-term fatigue. Further research is needed to explore treatment strategies for affected young populations.
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spelling doaj-art-6c7cf083a993447bb4e33865c675aa4c2025-08-20T02:29:43ZengElsevierBrain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health2666-35462025-05-014510098210.1016/j.bbih.2025.100982Predictors of fatigue progression in long COVID among young peopleElias Myrstad Brodwall0Joel Selvakumar1Lise Beier Havdal2Silke Sommen3Lise Lund Berven4Erin Cvejic5Vegard Bruun Bratholm Wyller6Maria Pedersen7Dept. of Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Corresponding author. Dept. of Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.Dept. of Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayDept. of Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, NorwayDept. of Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayDept. of Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; Dept. of Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen), University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, NorwayThe University of Sydney, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, AustraliaDept. of Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayDept. of Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Dept. of Pediatric Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, NorwayLong COVID, or post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), has emerged as a significant health concern, with fatigue being the most prevalent persistent symptom among young people. However, research on predictors of fatigue progression in young populations is limited. This study aimed to investigate factors during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection that could predict fatigue progression between six and 12 months post-infection in a cohort of young people with chronic fatigue following COVID-19. Data from the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 in Adolescents (LoTECA) project were analyzed. A total of 93 participants (mean age 18.5 years, 84 % female) with chronic fatigue at six months, completed the 12-month follow-up. Multivariate analyses identified non-European ethnicity, higher interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels, and lower RR-interval (higher resting heart rate) during acute infection as significant predictors of fatigue progression from six to 12 months. These three factors explained 21 % of the variance in the fatigue score, highlighting the importance of ethnicity, immune response, and autonomic function in the trajectory of long COVID fatigue. Early identification and targeted interventions, particularly for ethnic minorities and those with specific immune or autonomic markers during acute infection, may be helpful in reducing long-term fatigue. Further research is needed to explore treatment strategies for affected young populations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354625000407Post-infective fatigue syndrome (PIFS)Post-COVID condition (PCC)Long COVIDChronic fatigueAdolescentsSARS-CoV-2
spellingShingle Elias Myrstad Brodwall
Joel Selvakumar
Lise Beier Havdal
Silke Sommen
Lise Lund Berven
Erin Cvejic
Vegard Bruun Bratholm Wyller
Maria Pedersen
Predictors of fatigue progression in long COVID among young people
Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health
Post-infective fatigue syndrome (PIFS)
Post-COVID condition (PCC)
Long COVID
Chronic fatigue
Adolescents
SARS-CoV-2
title Predictors of fatigue progression in long COVID among young people
title_full Predictors of fatigue progression in long COVID among young people
title_fullStr Predictors of fatigue progression in long COVID among young people
title_full_unstemmed Predictors of fatigue progression in long COVID among young people
title_short Predictors of fatigue progression in long COVID among young people
title_sort predictors of fatigue progression in long covid among young people
topic Post-infective fatigue syndrome (PIFS)
Post-COVID condition (PCC)
Long COVID
Chronic fatigue
Adolescents
SARS-CoV-2
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354625000407
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