A NEW analysis from the ongoing RECOVER-Adult study reveals that myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) develops significantly more frequently following SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to uninfected individuals. The findings highlight the growing recognition of post-viral fatigue syndromes, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19.
The study, which followed 11,785 adults across the USA, aimed to determine the incidence and prevalence of post-COVID-19 ME/CFS among those enrolled in the RECOVER-Adult cohort. Participants were divided into three groups: those with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (n=4,515), those with post-acute infection (n=7,270), and a control group of uninfected individuals (n=1,439). The analysis used the 2015 Institute of Medicine ME/CFS diagnostic criteria to assess outcomes.
The incidence rate of ME/CFS among those with SARS-CoV-2 infection was 2.66 cases per 100 person-years, compared to just 0.93 cases per 100 person-years in uninfected participants, giving an increased hazard ratio of 4.93 (95% CI: 3.62–6.71). The study found that 4.5% of individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 met the clinical criteria for ME/CFS, while only 0.6% of uninfected participants did.
The most common symptom of post-COVID ME/CFS was post-exertional malaise, reported by 24% of the participants with the condition. Notably, 88.7% of those diagnosed with post-COVID ME/CFS also met the criteria for long COVID, highlighting the overlap between these two long-term complications.
While the study’s reliance on self-reported symptoms could introduce variability, the data provides strong evidence that ME/CFS is a diagnosable and frequent sequela following COVID-19 infection. This emerging evidence reinforces the importance of ongoing research into post-viral syndromes and their long-term management.
Ada Enesco, EMJ
Reference
Vernon SD et al.; NIH Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Consortium. Incidence and prevalence of post-COVID-19 myalgic encephalomyelitis: a report from the observational RECOVER-Adult Study. J Gen Intern Med. 2025;DOI: 10.1007/s11606-024-09290-9.
