Chronic fatigue and headache in post-COVID-19 syndrome: a radiological and clinical evaluation
IntroductionThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused millions of infections and deaths globally. Post-COVID-19 syndrome, or long COVID is characterized by lingering symptoms such as chronic fatigue, headaches, and sleep disturbances. This study aimed to investigate the correlation...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1526130/full |
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| author | Gonçalo G. Almeida Gonçalo G. Almeida Saide Alkan Saide Alkan Robert Hoepner André Euler André Euler Lara Diem Franca Wagner |
| author_facet | Gonçalo G. Almeida Gonçalo G. Almeida Saide Alkan Saide Alkan Robert Hoepner André Euler André Euler Lara Diem Franca Wagner |
| author_sort | Gonçalo G. Almeida |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused millions of infections and deaths globally. Post-COVID-19 syndrome, or long COVID is characterized by lingering symptoms such as chronic fatigue, headaches, and sleep disturbances. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between these symptoms and T2-hyperintense white matter lesions detected on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spine in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome.MethodsThis retrospective, single-center study analyzed a sample of 96 patients from Bern University Hospital in Switzerland who presented with suspected post-COVID-19 syndrome between 2020 and 2022. Patients completed self-report questionnaires evaluating fatigue, emotional wellbeing, and daytime sleepiness. Brain and spine MRIs were independently rated by 2 neuroradiologists for T2-hyperintense lesions. The correlation between these lesions and symptoms of fatigue and headache was assessed.ResultsThe cohort consisted predominantly of women (73%) with an average age of 46 years. Chronic fatigue (90%), sleep disorders (51%), and headache (57%) were the most prevalent symptoms. The fatigue questionnaires indicated high levels of fatigue. Brain MRI revealed T2-hyperintense lesions in 72% of patients, whereas spine MRI showed these lesions in only 16%. There was no statistically significant correlation between the presence of cerebral T2-hyperintense lesions and symptoms of fatigue (p = 0.815) or headaches (p = 0.178). Similarly, no significant correlation was found when considering numbers of pathological brain lesions (fatigue: p = 0.557; headaches: p = 0.820).ConclusionWhile T2-hyperintense lesions are common in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome, their presence does not correlate significantly with symptoms of fatigue or headaches. These findings suggest that T2-hyperintense brain lesions may not be directly related to the subjective experience of these symptoms. Further research with larger sample sizes and adjustment for potential confounding factors is necessary to better understand the relationship between MRI findings and post-COVID-19 syndrome symptoms. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-84f2c013cb3a4085834eee8e5720b5be |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-2295 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Neurology |
| spelling | doaj-art-84f2c013cb3a4085834eee8e5720b5be2025-01-23T07:58:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-01-011510.3389/fneur.2024.15261301526130Chronic fatigue and headache in post-COVID-19 syndrome: a radiological and clinical evaluationGonçalo G. Almeida0Gonçalo G. Almeida1Saide Alkan2Saide Alkan3Robert Hoepner4André Euler5André Euler6Lara Diem7Franca Wagner8Department of Radiology, Kantonsspital Baden, Baden, SwitzerlandAffiliated Hospital for Research and Teaching of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandSwitzerland Center for Neuroradiology, Klinik Hirslanden, Zurich, SwitzerlandUniversity Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandDepartment of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandDepartment of Radiology, Kantonsspital Baden, Baden, SwitzerlandAffiliated Hospital for Research and Teaching of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Neurology, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Lucerne, SwitzerlandUniversity Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandIntroductionThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused millions of infections and deaths globally. Post-COVID-19 syndrome, or long COVID is characterized by lingering symptoms such as chronic fatigue, headaches, and sleep disturbances. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between these symptoms and T2-hyperintense white matter lesions detected on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spine in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome.MethodsThis retrospective, single-center study analyzed a sample of 96 patients from Bern University Hospital in Switzerland who presented with suspected post-COVID-19 syndrome between 2020 and 2022. Patients completed self-report questionnaires evaluating fatigue, emotional wellbeing, and daytime sleepiness. Brain and spine MRIs were independently rated by 2 neuroradiologists for T2-hyperintense lesions. The correlation between these lesions and symptoms of fatigue and headache was assessed.ResultsThe cohort consisted predominantly of women (73%) with an average age of 46 years. Chronic fatigue (90%), sleep disorders (51%), and headache (57%) were the most prevalent symptoms. The fatigue questionnaires indicated high levels of fatigue. Brain MRI revealed T2-hyperintense lesions in 72% of patients, whereas spine MRI showed these lesions in only 16%. There was no statistically significant correlation between the presence of cerebral T2-hyperintense lesions and symptoms of fatigue (p = 0.815) or headaches (p = 0.178). Similarly, no significant correlation was found when considering numbers of pathological brain lesions (fatigue: p = 0.557; headaches: p = 0.820).ConclusionWhile T2-hyperintense lesions are common in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome, their presence does not correlate significantly with symptoms of fatigue or headaches. These findings suggest that T2-hyperintense brain lesions may not be directly related to the subjective experience of these symptoms. Further research with larger sample sizes and adjustment for potential confounding factors is necessary to better understand the relationship between MRI findings and post-COVID-19 syndrome symptoms.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1526130/fullpost-COVID-19 syndromeMRIwhite matter lesionsbrainspinefatigue |
| spellingShingle | Gonçalo G. Almeida Gonçalo G. Almeida Saide Alkan Saide Alkan Robert Hoepner André Euler André Euler Lara Diem Franca Wagner Chronic fatigue and headache in post-COVID-19 syndrome: a radiological and clinical evaluation Frontiers in Neurology post-COVID-19 syndrome MRI white matter lesions brain spine fatigue |
| title | Chronic fatigue and headache in post-COVID-19 syndrome: a radiological and clinical evaluation |
| title_full | Chronic fatigue and headache in post-COVID-19 syndrome: a radiological and clinical evaluation |
| title_fullStr | Chronic fatigue and headache in post-COVID-19 syndrome: a radiological and clinical evaluation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chronic fatigue and headache in post-COVID-19 syndrome: a radiological and clinical evaluation |
| title_short | Chronic fatigue and headache in post-COVID-19 syndrome: a radiological and clinical evaluation |
| title_sort | chronic fatigue and headache in post covid 19 syndrome a radiological and clinical evaluation |
| topic | post-COVID-19 syndrome MRI white matter lesions brain spine fatigue |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1526130/full |
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