tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
BMJ Open
. 2026 Mar 23;16(3):e104338.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-104338.
Prevalence of severe fatigue after SARS-CoV-2 infection in Norway: a prospective 2-year follow-up study
Kristine Karlsrud Berg[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Marjut Sarjomaa[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Yngvar Tveten[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Carina Thilesen[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Anne Kristin Moeller Fell[SUP] 3 6 [/SUP], Svein Arne Nordbø[SUP] 7 8 [/SUP], Harald Reiso[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Randi Eikeland[SUP] 9 10 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Objectives: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of long-lasting severe fatigue and identify possible risk factors in a 2-year follow-up of patients with predominantly mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Design: Prospective cohort study.
Setting: A community-based cohort from Telemark and Agder Counties, Norway.
Participants: A total of 159 PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals in the period between 28 February and 17 December 2020 were included at 12 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 93 responded at 24 months follow-up.
Outcome measures: Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and health-related quality of life using the RAND version of health-related quality of life Short Form 36 (SF-36), developed by the RAND Corporation. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured at 12 and 24 months.
Results: Severe fatigue (FSS ≥5) was reported by 36% at 12 months and 31% at 24 months. A higher proportion of women than men reported severe fatigue at 12 months (p=0.08). The number of acute-phase symptoms was associated with severe fatigue. No association was found between severe fatigue and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels, demographic variables or reinfection status. The severe fatigue group scored significantly lower on all domains of SF-36.
Conclusion: In this cohort, severe fatigue was common, greatly impacted quality of life and persisted for up to 2 years following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Fatigue severity was associated with symptom burden in the acute phase but not with antibody levels or other demographic variables. These findings underscore the need for long-term follow-up and support for affected individuals.
Keywords: COVID-19; Fatigue; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; SARS-CoV-2 Infection.
. 2026 Mar 23;16(3):e104338.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-104338.
Prevalence of severe fatigue after SARS-CoV-2 infection in Norway: a prospective 2-year follow-up study
Kristine Karlsrud Berg[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Marjut Sarjomaa[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Yngvar Tveten[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Carina Thilesen[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Anne Kristin Moeller Fell[SUP] 3 6 [/SUP], Svein Arne Nordbø[SUP] 7 8 [/SUP], Harald Reiso[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Randi Eikeland[SUP] 9 10 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 41877330
- DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-104338
Objectives: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of long-lasting severe fatigue and identify possible risk factors in a 2-year follow-up of patients with predominantly mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Design: Prospective cohort study.
Setting: A community-based cohort from Telemark and Agder Counties, Norway.
Participants: A total of 159 PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals in the period between 28 February and 17 December 2020 were included at 12 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 93 responded at 24 months follow-up.
Outcome measures: Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and health-related quality of life using the RAND version of health-related quality of life Short Form 36 (SF-36), developed by the RAND Corporation. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured at 12 and 24 months.
Results: Severe fatigue (FSS ≥5) was reported by 36% at 12 months and 31% at 24 months. A higher proportion of women than men reported severe fatigue at 12 months (p=0.08). The number of acute-phase symptoms was associated with severe fatigue. No association was found between severe fatigue and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels, demographic variables or reinfection status. The severe fatigue group scored significantly lower on all domains of SF-36.
Conclusion: In this cohort, severe fatigue was common, greatly impacted quality of life and persisted for up to 2 years following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Fatigue severity was associated with symptom burden in the acute phase but not with antibody levels or other demographic variables. These findings underscore the need for long-term follow-up and support for affected individuals.
Keywords: COVID-19; Fatigue; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; SARS-CoV-2 Infection.