Post-exertional malaise in Long COVID: subjective reporting versus objective assessment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is a central feature of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and has emerged as a prominent feature of Long COVID. The optimal clinical approach to PEM is inconclusive, and studies of the impact of exercise have yielded contradictory results.

Objective

The objective of this study was to examine PEM in Long COVID by assessing the prevalence of self-reported PEM across study cohorts and symptom responses of Long COVID patients to a standardized exercise stressor. Secondarily, Long COVID symptom responses to exercise were compared to those of ME/CFS and healthy volunteers.

Methods

Data from three registered clinical trials comprised four cohorts in this study: Long COVID Questionnaire Cohort (QC; n = 

SUBMITTER: Stussman B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12055772 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature