{
  "abstract": "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.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Medical Microbiology, Sørlandet Hospital Trust, Kristiansand, Norway"
      ],
      "name": "Kristine Karlsrud Berg"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Infection Control, Telemark Hospital Trust, Skien, Norway",
        "Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway"
      ],
      "name": "Marjut Sarjomaa"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Clinical Microbiology, Telemark Hospital Trust, Skien, Norway"
      ],
      "name": "Yngvar Tveten"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Medical Microbiology, Unilabs Laboratory Medicine, Skien, Telemark, Norway"
      ],
      "name": "Carina Thilesen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway",
        "Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Telemark Hospital Trust, Skien, Norway"
      ],
      "name": "Anne Kristin Moeller Fell"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Medical Microbiology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway",
        "Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway"
      ],
      "name": "Svein Arne Nordbø"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "The Norwegian Advisory Unit on Tick-borne Diseases, Sørlandet Hospital Trust, Arendal, Norway"
      ],
      "name": "Harald Reiso"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "The Norwegian Advisory Unit on Tick-borne Diseases, Sørlandet Hospital Trust, Arendal, Norway",
        "Department of Health and Sport Science, Institute of Health and Nursing Science, University of Agder, Grimstad, Norway"
      ],
      "name": "Randi Eikeland"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Prevalence of severe fatigue after SARS-CoV-2 infection in Norway: a prospective 2-year follow-up study",
  "uid": "03a5e0cd-3fea-5a57-9cec-f2223d2cfff0"
}