MedPath

Cognitive, Psychological, and Physical Functioning in Long-COVID Patients With Different Levels of Fatigue.

Recruiting
Conditions
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Registration Number
NCT05758558
Lead Sponsor
Hasselt University
Brief Summary

Post COVID-19 usually occurs 3 months from the onset of COVID-19 with symptoms that last for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis. Patients report a range of disabling symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive impairment, memory loss and mental health and employment issues. This clinical heterogeneity complicates the identification of the appropriate needs and care.

The aim of this cross-sectional study is to identify subgroups (clusters) of post COVID patients based on clinical symptoms, demographic characteristics, levels of fatigue and physical, cognitive and psychological functioning of the individuals.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
200
Inclusion Criteria

The participant must report current persisting symptoms (such as brain fog, anxiety, shortness of breath, headaches but also others) and indicate on the Post COVID-19 Functional Status Scale that these have an impact on everyday functioning (grade 2, 3, and 4). These symptoms need to be present for more than two months.

Further inclusion criteria are:

  • Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) score > 4
  • Aged over 18 years old
  • Willing to sign the digital informed consent
  • Dutch speaking and Dutch understanding
  • Be tested positive for COVID-19, i.e. by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), computed tomography (CT) of the lungs, or symptom-based diagnosis by the general practitioner.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Pregnant women
  • Pacemaker, defibrillator
  • Brain or nerve disorders
  • Epilepsy
  • A copper spiral or recent bone fracture

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Fatigue severityDay 1

Fatigue severity scale (FSS)

Psychological evaluationDay 1

Anxiety and depression Scale (HADS); MINI-S, MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview - Simplified (Overbeek \& Schruers 2019)

Physical evaluationDay 1

Hand grip strength (Jamar hand dynamometer) \& Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT)

Cognitive evaluationDay 1

Multi-modal Evaluation of Sensory Sensitivity (MESSY); Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hasselt University

🇧🇪

Diepenbeek, Belgium

Hasselt University
🇧🇪Diepenbeek, Belgium
Stef Feijen, PhD
Contact
stef.feijen@uhasselt.be
Katleen Bogaerts, PhD
Contact
katleen.bogaerts@uhasselt.be
© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath