Recent studies reveal that the prevalence of the chronic condition has surged to 15 times what it was before the pandemic.
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A recent study suggests a significant increase in the incidence of ME/CFS linked to COVID-19. Researchers utilized data from a long COVID research project conducted by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and determined that ME/CFS cases have surged to 15 times the levels seen before the pandemic. Additionally, individuals with a prior COVID infection are nearly eight times more likely to experience this chronic illness.
"The findings of this study highlight the critical need for healthcare professionals to acknowledge post-COVID-19 ME/CFS," stated Dr. Suzanne D. Vernon, the lead author and research director at the Bateman Horne Center, in a statement released to IFLScience.
ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) is a multifaceted chronic illness that may occasionally be linked to a previous infection. Even in cases where the initial infection was minor and the individual fully recovered, a debilitating range of symptoms can emerge later on.
If that sounds familiar in the context of COVID-19, that’s because there are a lot of parallels between ME/CFS and long COVID. While some patients with long COVID may have organ damage caused by the virus itself, or be dealing with the long-term effects of hospitalization, there are still others who recovered from a mild bout of COVID only to develop symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, and dizziness.
But while long COVID is a comparatively new problem, ME/CFS and the concept of post-viral illnesses have been known about for some time. Nonetheless, many patients report difficulty accessing diagnosis and care, and face stigma, misunderstandings, and conflicting advice, as evidenced in testimonials such as this patient account published in the journal Work.
It’s now known beyond doubt that ME/CFS is a biological illness that affects multiple bodily systems. There are different degrees of severity, and the condition can have a significant impact on day-to-day activities. A key feature for many patients is post-exertional malaise, where symptoms like fatigue worsen after physical activity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that around a quarter of people with the condition are confined to bed at some point in their illness.
Based on the knowledge gained about long COVID since the pandemic was officially declared nearly five years ago, the researchers involved in the recent study aimed to explore the possible connection between COVID-19 and ME/CFS.
They turned to data from the RECOVER Initiative, an NIH-funded project that was set up to be “the world’s most comprehensive and diverse” study of long COVID. This analysis included 11,785 participants with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and 1,439 who had not been infected.
The team assessed how many of the participants met the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS at least 6 months after having COVID-19. It’s worth noting that these criteria rely on self-reporting of symptoms, which was highlighted as a limitation of the study.
ME/CFS was identified in 4.5 percent of participants who were infected, compared to only 0.6 percent among those who were not infected. Notably, nearly 90 percent of individuals who fulfilled the criteria for ME/CFS were also recognized as some of the most symptomatic patients suffering from long COVID, emphasizing the connection between these two conditions.
“These findings provide additional evidence that infections, including those caused by SARS-CoV-2, can lead to ME/CFS,” writes the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in a statement on the study.
The most commonly reported symptoms by the cohort were post-exertional malaise, orthostatic intolerance (dizziness when standing up), and cognitive impairments. These are also symptoms reported by many long COVID patients, and the authors say there’s an urgent need for more research to understand why COVID can lead to chronic illness in some, and who may be predisposed.
Vernon stated, “This study highlights the critical need for healthcare professionals to identify post-COVID-19 ME/CFS. Timely diagnosis and effective treatment can make a significant difference in people's lives.”
The study is published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
