Hensel, Ole, Pfrommer, Laura, Furch, Peggy et al. · MMW Fortschritte der Medizin · 2026 · DOI
This is a narrative review (a summary of existing research rather than a new study) that examined long-term effects of COVID-19, with a focus on post-exertional malaise (PEM) and postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS). The authors report that in people with post-COVID, PEM—a worsening of symptoms after exertion—was observed in approximately 86% of patients, and POTS-related symptoms in up to 82%. The review suggests pacing and symptom-focused treatments may help, though these are early findings from a narrative synthesis rather than definitive evidence.
PEM and POTS are hallmark features recognised in both post-COVID and ME/CFS populations. By analogy, a systematic summary of post-COVID research on these two syndromes may inform understanding of mechanisms and management strategies relevant to ME/CFS; however, the relevance of post-COVID findings to ME/CFS aetiology remains unclear and requires careful interpretation. This review highlights that both conditions are increasingly recognised as having an organic (non-psychogenic) basis.
A narrative review does not establish causation and typically does not apply quality appraisal to included studies, so the certainty of prevalence estimates (86% PEM, 82% POTS) cannot be assessed from this abstract alone. The review does not compare post-COVID PEM or POTS directly to ME/CFS, so silent transfer of findings between these populations is not justified. It does not constitute a treatment efficacy trial and does not provide quantified outcome data for pacing or symptomatic therapies.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Hensel, Ole, Pfrommer, Laura, Furch, Peggy, Strutz, Nicole, Wohlgemuth, Walter A, & Posa, Andreas (2026). [Post-COVID: An inventory focusing on the key complaints PEM and POTS].. MMW Fortschritte der Medizin. https://doi.org/10.1007/s15006-026-5691-7
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-hensel-2026-post-covid,
author = {Hensel, Ole and Pfrommer, Laura and Furch, Peggy and Strutz, Nicole and Wohlgemuth, Walter A and Posa, Andreas},
title = {[Post-COVID: An inventory focusing on the key complaints PEM and POTS].},
journal = {MMW Fortschritte der Medizin},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1007/s15006-026-5691-7},
note = {PubMed: 41991875},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/hensel-2026-post-covid},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-25. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/hensel-2026-post-covid
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