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- Title
Long-COVID fatigue is not predicted by pre-pandemic plasma IL-6 levels in mild COVID-19.
- Authors
Freidin, Maxim B.; Cheetham, Nathan; Duncan, Emma L.; Steves, Claire J.; Doores, Katherine J.; Malim, Michael H.; Rossi, Niccolo; Lord, Janet M.; Franks, Paul W.; Borsini, Alessandra; Granville Smith, Isabelle; Falchi, Mario; Pariante, Carmine; Williams, Frances M. K.
- Abstract
Objective and design: Fatigue is a prominent symptom in the general population and may follow viral infection, including SARS-CoV2 infection which causes COVID-19. Chronic fatigue lasting more than three months is the major symptom of the post-COVID syndrome (known colloquially as long-COVID). The mechanisms underlying long-COVID fatigue are unknown. We hypothesized that the development of long-COVID chronic fatigue is driven by the pro-inflammatory immune status of an individual prior to COVID-19. Subjects and methods: We analyzed pre-pandemic plasma levels of IL-6, which plays a key role in persistent fatigue, in N = 1274 community dwelling adults from TwinsUK. Subsequent COVID-19-positive and -negative participants were categorized based on SARS-CoV-2 antigen and antibody testing. Chronic fatigue was assessed using the Chalder Fatigue Scale. Results: COVID-19-positive participants exhibited mild disease. Chronic fatigue was a prevalent symptom among this population and significantly higher in positive vs. negative participants (17% vs 11%, respectively; p = 0.001). The qualitative nature of chronic fatigue as determined by individual questionnaire responses was similar in positive and negative participants. Pre-pandemic plasma IL-6 levels were positively associated with chronic fatigue in negative, but not positive individuals. Raised BMI was associated with chronic fatigue in positive participants. Conclusions: Pre-existing increased IL-6 levels may contribute to chronic fatigue symptoms, but there was no increased risk in individuals with mild COVID-19 compared with uninfected individuals. Elevated BMI also increased the risk of chronic fatigue in mild COVID-19, consistent with previous reports.
- Subjects
FATIGUE (Physiology); POST-acute COVID-19 syndrome; INTERLEUKIN-6; COVID-19; ANTIBODY titer; CANCER fatigue; POSTPOLIOMYELITIS syndrome
- Publication
Inflammation Research, 2023, Vol 72, Issue 5, p947
- ISSN
1023-3830
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00011-023-01722-2