Fatigue and quality of life among older coronavirus disease 2019 survivors

Abstract

Background: Fatigue is a common post-illness symptom that significantly impacts the quality of life (QoL), especially among elderly individuals. The long-term effects of COVID-19 on fatigue and QoL in elderly survivors remain under-explored. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to examine the prevalence of fatigue and its impact on the quality of life among elderly COVID-19 survivors. Materials and Methods: Data were collected from a tertiary care hospital in India, involving 99 participants aged over 50 years. Sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained via structured interviews. Fatigue was assessed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 questionnaire, while QoL was measured with the WHOQOL-BREF Scale. Results: Significant positive correlations were found between age and fatigue. Fatigue scores were notably higher in the physical fatigue and reduced activity domains. Overall QoL scores were significantly negatively correlated with fatigue scores. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of addressing fatigue in post-COVID-19 care for elderly survivors, as fatigue significantly impacts their quality of life.

Keywords

• coronavirus disease 2019
• fatigue
• quality of life