Potential Factors That Contribute to Post-COVID-19 Fatigue in Women

Thorsten Rudroff; Craig D Workman; Andrew D Bryant

doi:10.3390/brainsci12050556

Potential Factors That Contribute to Post-COVID-19 Fatigue in Women

Brain Sci. 2022 Apr 26;12(5):556. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12050556.

Authors

Thorsten Rudroff^{1

2}, Craig D Workman¹, Andrew D Bryant³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
² Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.

Abstract

Mortality of acute coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is higher in men than in women. On the contrary, women experience more long-term consequences of the disease, such as fatigue. In this perspective article, we proposed a model of the potential factors that might contribute to the higher incidence of post-COVID-19 fatigue in women. Specifically, psycho-physiological factors are features that might increase central factors (e.g., inflammation) and result in greater perceptions of fatigue. Furthermore, pre-existing conditions likely play a prominent role. This model offers a framework for researchers and clinicians, and future research is required to validate our proposed model and elucidate all mechanisms of the increased incidence and prevalence of post-COVID-19 fatigue in women.

Keywords: fatigue; inflammation; post-COVID 19; sex differences.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.