Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Coronavirus

The relationship between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), and coronavirus, particularly Long Covid, has been a focus of recent research. Key insights include:

1. Increased Risk:
   • Studies indicate that individuals recovering from Covid-19 are at a higher risk of developing ME/CFS. For example, 4.5% of Covid-19 survivors met the criteria for ME/CFS compared to 0.6% of uninfected individual

     2. Shared Mechanisms:

     • Both ME/CFS and Long Covid exhibit overlapping symptoms, such as persistent fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and cognitive difficulties. These conditions may share underlying mechanisms, including immune system dysfunction and chronic inflammation

      

     3. Global Prevalence:

     • A systematic review found that 45.2% of Long Covid patients experienced symptoms consistent with ME/CFS, highlighting the significant impact of post-viral fatigue syndromes

                  4. Research and Advocacy:

• Ongoing studies aim to understand the biological links between Covid-19 and ME/CFS, with a focus on improving diagnosis and treatment options

These findings underscore the importance of addressing the long-term health impacts of Covid-19 and supporting individuals affected by ME/CFS and Long Covid.