Correlation between fatigue and pulmonary involvement in the post-COVID-19 condition: a cross-sectional study 6–12 months after hospital discharge

Correlation between fatigue and pulmonary involvement in the post-COVID-19 condition: a cross-sectional study 6–12 months after hospital discharge

Introduction Post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC) may include pulmonary sequelae, fatigue and other symptoms, but its mechanisms are not fully elucidated.Objective This study investigated the correlation between fatigue and the presence of pulmonary abnormalities in PCC patients with respiratory involveme...

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Main Authors: Paulo A Lotufo, Juliana C Ferreira, Eloisa Bonfa, Anna S Levin, Rodrigo Caruso Chate, Marta Imamura, Esper G Kallas, Roger Chammas, Thais Mauad, Izabel Marcilio, Nelson Gouveia, Ricardo Nitrini, José Eduardo Krieger, Marcio Valente Yamada Sawamura, Carlos Roberto Ribeiro de Carvalho, Cristiano Gomes, Jorge Hallak, Luis Yu, Marcio Mancini, Maria Elizabeth Rossi, Thiago Avelino-Silva, Edivaldo M Utiyama, Aluisio C Segurado, Beatriz Perondi, Anna Miethke-Morais, Amanda C Montal, Leila Harima, Solange R G Fusco, Marjorie F Silva, Marcelo C Rocha, Carolina Carmo, Clarice Tanaka, Julio F M Marchini, Thaís Guimarães, Ester Sabino, Tarcisio E P Barros-Filho, Celina Almeida Lamas, João Marcos Salge, Cesar Higa Nomura, Adriana L Araújo, Bruno F Guedes, Carolina S Lázari, Cassiano C Antonio, Claudia C Leite, Emmanuel A Burdmann, Euripedes C Miguel, Fabio R Pinna, Geraldo F Busatto, Giovanni G Cerri, Heraldo P Souza, Izabel C Rios, Larissa S Oliveira, Linamara R Batisttella, Marcello M C Magri, Maura S Oliveira, Orestes V Forlenza, Ricardo F Bento, Rodolfo F Damiano, Rossana P Francisco, Wilson J Filho, Mateus Satoru Kajiwara, Luis Augusto Visani de Luna, Thais Suemi Yokoyama, Pedro Rizzi de Oliveira, Maria Amelia de Jesus, Vilson C Junior
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-07-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/7/e097338.full
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Summary:Introduction Post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC) may include pulmonary sequelae, fatigue and other symptoms, but its mechanisms are not fully elucidated.Objective This study investigated the correlation between fatigue and the presence of pulmonary abnormalities in PCC patients with respiratory involvement 6–12 months after hospitalisation.Design Cross-sectional study.Setting A tertiary hospital in Brazil.Participants 315 patients, aged ≥18 years, were considered eligible based on SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR.Methods Pulmonary function tests (PFT), cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET), chest CT and hand grip were performed. The following scales were applied: Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) scale, Euroqol 5 Dimensions quality of life (EQ-5D) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Participants were divided between the fatigue group (FACIT-F≤30) and the non-fatigue group (FACIT-F>30). For the statistical analysis, the primary outcome was the difference in the diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) between groups. Considered secondary outcomes were differences in PFT, CPET, chest CT, hand grip, EQ-5D and HADS.Results The fatigue group had 81 patients (25.7%) against 234 (74.3%). PFT and CPET showed no significant difference in DLCO and oxygen consumption peak values between groups. The fatigue group had a lower workload (mean 55.3±21.3 watts vs 66.5±23.2 watts, p=0.003), higher breathing reserve (median 41.9% (33.8–52.5) vs 37.7% (28.9–47.1), p=0.028) and lower prevalence of ground glass opacity (60.8% vs 77.7%, p=0.003) and reticulation (36.7% vs 54.9%, p=0.005) in chest CT. The fatigue group had higher anxiety (57% vs 24%, p<0.001), depression (50.6% vs 13.6%, p<0.001), lower health-related quality of life (median 50 (32–63) vs 80 (61.3–88.3), p<0.001) and lower hand grip strength (median 15.8 (6–21) kgf vs 21 (12.1–30) kgf, p<0.001).Conclusion Fatigue in patients with PCC 6–12 months after hospitalisation is relatively common and had weak correlation with pulmonary disorders. Our results suggested fatigue could be strongly related with peripheral disorders such as reduced musculoskeletal strength or psychosocial limitations.
ISSN:2044-6055

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