{"title":"The persistence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106297","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Long COVID-19 (LC) patients experience a number of chronic idiopathic symptoms that are highly similar to those of post-viral myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). We have therefore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the proportion of LC patients that satisfy ME/CFS diagnostic criteria.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Clinical studies published between January 2020 and May 2023 were identified using the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and CINAHL databases. Publication inclusion/exclusion criteria were formulated using the global CoCoPop framework. Data were pooled using a random-effects model with a restricted maximum-likelihood estimator. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical assessment tool.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We identified 13 eligible studies that reported a total of 1973 LC patients. Our meta-analysis indicated that 51% (95% CI, 42%−60%) of LC patients satisfied ME/CFS diagnostic criteria, with fatigue, sleep disruption, and muscle/joint pain being the most common symptoms. Importantly, LC patients also experienced the ME/CFS hallmark symptom, post-exertional malaise.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our study not only demonstrates that LC patients exhibit similar symptom clusters to ME/CFS, but that approximately half of LC patients satisfy a diagnosis of ME/CFS. Our findings suggest that current ME/CFS criteria could be adapted to the identification of a subset of LC patients that may facilitate the standardised diagnosis, management and the recruitment for clinical studies in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50180,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Infection","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163445324002317","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives
Long COVID-19 (LC) patients experience a number of chronic idiopathic symptoms that are highly similar to those of post-viral myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). We have therefore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the proportion of LC patients that satisfy ME/CFS diagnostic criteria.
Methods
Clinical studies published between January 2020 and May 2023 were identified using the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and CINAHL databases. Publication inclusion/exclusion criteria were formulated using the global CoCoPop framework. Data were pooled using a random-effects model with a restricted maximum-likelihood estimator. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical assessment tool.
Results
We identified 13 eligible studies that reported a total of 1973 LC patients. Our meta-analysis indicated that 51% (95% CI, 42%−60%) of LC patients satisfied ME/CFS diagnostic criteria, with fatigue, sleep disruption, and muscle/joint pain being the most common symptoms. Importantly, LC patients also experienced the ME/CFS hallmark symptom, post-exertional malaise.
Conclusions
Our study not only demonstrates that LC patients exhibit similar symptom clusters to ME/CFS, but that approximately half of LC patients satisfy a diagnosis of ME/CFS. Our findings suggest that current ME/CFS criteria could be adapted to the identification of a subset of LC patients that may facilitate the standardised diagnosis, management and the recruitment for clinical studies in the future.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Infection publishes original papers on all aspects of infection - clinical, microbiological and epidemiological. The Journal seeks to bring together knowledge from all specialties involved in infection research and clinical practice, and present the best work in the ever-changing field of infection.
Each issue brings you Editorials that describe current or controversial topics of interest, high quality Reviews to keep you in touch with the latest developments in specific fields of interest, an Epidemiology section reporting studies in the hospital and the general community, and a lively correspondence section.