Persistent fatigue symptoms following COVID-19 infection in healthcare workers: risk factors and impact on quality of life

Background and objectives Employees from medical and nursing professions are at increased risk for a SARS-CoV-2 infection and thus more frequently affected by COVID-19 sequelae. Previous studies have identified post-viral fatigue as the most common sequelae. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors and effects induced by clinically relevant fatigue symptoms following a COVID-19 infection of healthcare workers. Methods In the spring of 2021, 4315 insured members of the Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Service were contacted for a written survey on their COVID-19 disease in 2020 and its sequelae. Information on Symptoms of acute infection, disease sequelae, and potential risk factors were collected, as well as the physical and mental health status after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The general fatigue scale of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) was used as fatigue screening. Regression analyses and multivariate analyses of variance were calculated for data analysis. Results Of the respondents, 10.7% showed severe fatigue symptoms. Identified risk factors for clinical fatigue symptoms included preexisting mental and respiratory conditions and severity of acute infection. Furthermore, severe long-/post-COVID fatigue was associated with higher psychological distress, lower health-related quality of life, and more frequent incapacity to work. Conclusions Severe long-/post-COVID fatigue is associated with a high level of distress, which requires specific rehabilitation approaches and poses a challenge to the social insurance agencies and accident insurers to develop appropriate rehabilitation concepts.