Functional olfactory impairment and fatigue in post-COVID-19 syndrome including ME/CFS - a longitudinal prospective observational study.

ABSTRACT: Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) affects a significant proportion of individuals, with olfactory impairment and fatigue as prominent long-term symptoms. A subset of PCS patients with pronounced fatigue meets the diagnostic criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), here referred to as PCS-ME/CFS. This study explores the relationship between PCS, fatigue, and olfactory function, and investigates the potential of olfactory impairment as a diagnostic and prognostic marker. We assessed olfactory function up to 28 months post-COVID-19 in 45 PCS patients (22 PCS, 23 PCS-ME/CFS) using the extended Sniffin' Sticks test, which evaluates odor threshold, discrimination, and identification, providing a composite score. Fatigue severity and health-related quality of life were

SUBMITTER: Meyer-Arndt L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12634829 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature