Fatigue in Individuals with Post-COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues as an epidemic with high morbidity and mortality rates. Individuals experience physiological and psychological changes after COVID-19, with fatigue being a frequently reported symptom both during and after infection. Fatigue is a multidimensional subjective concept, necessitating evaluation with measurement tools for effective treatment and care planning. Aim: This study aimed to examine the fatigue levels in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 through a cross-sectional descriptive approach. Methods: The study included 300 individuals who had COVID-19 between July 1 and August 1, 2021. Ethics committee approval and permission from the Ministry of Health were obtained prior to the research. Data were collected online using a questionnaire and the Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS), covering socio-demographic characteristics and COVID-19- related processes. Higher PFS scores indicated increased fatigue levels. The data were analyzed using Student’s t-test, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: The majority of participants were aged 34-41, female, married, high school graduates, with chronic diseases, and had transmitted COVID-19 to family members. The average PFS score was 5.50 ± 1.28, with individuals aged 50-57, married, and with chronic diseases reporting higher scores (p < 0.05). Post-COVID-19 symptoms included shortness of breath, fatigue, forgetfulness, cough, and loss of smell. Higher PFS scores were observed in participants with shortness of breath, body pain, cough, difficulty concentrating, and increased sleep tendency, although these findings were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Fatigue persists for months after COVID-19, with individual variations in fatigue levels. Individuals reported various symptoms during and after infection, with the severity of fatigue varying according to these symptoms.