Researchers have uncovered new evidence that the coronavirus pandemic has left significant marks on the health of people around the globe.
It has been revealed that as a result of the global population being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the number of cases of myalgic encephalomyelitis, more commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), has surged dramatically.
A new study from the Bateman Horne Center shows that those who contracted the virus exhibited symptoms of chronic fatigue 7.5 times more frequently six months after their illness compared to those who did not get sick.
“Our findings indicate that the incidence and risk of developing ME/CFS after SARS-CoV-2 infection are significantly increased,” wrote the research team led by Suzanne Vernon.
Viruses and Fatigue
While no one knows for certain what causes ME/CFS, scientists have long observed a connection between chronic fatigue and viral infections.
The authors of the new study noted that their results “are supported by other research that has identified infectious agents, such as Epstein-Barr virus and Ross River virus, as contributors to chronic fatigue syndrome.”
Both long COVID and ME/CFS share many similar symptoms, as reported by Science Alert. Therefore, some researchers suspect that these two conditions may be related or even caused by the same factors.
Experts estimate that between 13 to 58 percent of people with long COVID meet the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS.
What Did Scientists Discover?
The study, funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, involved 11,785 individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 and 1,439 volunteers who had never been infected. Every three months, from October 2021 to September 2024, all participants filled out health questionnaires.
Ultimately, it was found that 4.5 percent of participants who had COVID-19 met the criteria for ME/CFS. Moreover, nearly 40 percent of those infected reported at least one symptom of ME/CFS six months after their COVID-19 diagnosis.
In contrast, among uninfected individuals, only 0.6 percent had this syndrome, and 16 percent experienced just one symptom.
The most common symptom of chronic fatigue was post-exertional malaise. The second most prevalent symptom was orthostatic intolerance, which involves a sudden drop in blood pressure.
In the cohort of COVID-19 infected individuals, chronic fatigue syndrome was most frequently observed in white women aged 46 to 65 who lived in rural areas and were less likely to be vaccinated.
Understanding why some people are more susceptible to long COVID and ME/CFS could help researchers find new ways to prevent and treat both conditions.
Scientists stated that since neither of these ailments has known causes or treatments, and both conditions are on the rise, there is a strong rationale to continue research.
The findings were published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.