ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

1–20 of 46 studies

E0 ConsensusPEM not requiredModerate confidenceReview-NarrativeEditor reviewed

Long COVID: lights and shadows on the clinical characterization of this emerging pathology.

Cogliandro, Viola, Bonfanti, Paolo·The new microbiologica·2024

This review examined Long COVID, a condition affecting 10-20% of people who had COVID-19 infection. Long COVID causes multiple symptoms across different body systems that significantly reduce quality of life. The review highlights that some Long COVID patients develop conditions like POTS (a heart rhythm problem when standing), ME/CFS (severe fatigue and post-exertional symptoms), and brain fog, and summarizes what treatments might help.

Long COVID OverlapPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusPEM unclearModerate confidenceReview-NarrativeEditor reviewed

Navigating the Spectrum of Two Pediatric COVID-19 Complications: Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children and Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Parzen-Johnson, Simon, Katz, Ben Z·Journal of clinical medicine·2024

This review article examines two serious complications that can occur in children after COVID-19 infection: MIS-C (a condition where the immune system overreacts and inflames multiple body systems) and PASC (long-term symptoms that persist after the acute infection ends). The authors found that while most children don't get severely ill from COVID-19 itself, these post-infection complications cause significant ongoing health problems. The review identifies important gaps in our understanding of why these conditions develop and calls for more research and resources to help affected children.

Long COVID Overlap

E0 ConsensusPEM unclearPreliminaryEditor reviewed

Blood virome research in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: challenges and opportunities.

Obraitis, Dominic, Li, Dawei·Current opinion in virology·2024

This review examines whether viruses trigger myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Scientists have found that some ME/CFS cases may start after viral infections, and blood tests can detect viral genetic material in patients. The review highlights that while viruses are a suspected cause, no single virus has been found in all ME/CFS patients, and researchers need better tools to understand these complex viral patterns.

Long COVID Overlap

E0 ConsensusPEM unclearHigher confidenceReview-NarrativeEditor reviewed

Diagnosis and Management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Grach, Stephanie L, Seltzer, Jaime, Chon, Tony Y et al.·Mayo Clinic proceedings·2023

This review explains how doctors can diagnose and manage ME/CFS, a serious illness that causes extreme tiredness and other symptoms, often starting after an infection. The authors note that ME/CFS shares many similarities with long COVID, the condition some people experience after having COVID-19. They provide practical guidance to help healthcare providers recognize and treat this condition.

Long COVID OverlapPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusPEM requiredModerate confidenceReview-NarrativeEditor reviewed

Fatigue in Adults: Evaluation and Management.

Latimer, Kelly M, Gunther, Althea, Kopec, Michael·American family physician·2023

Fatigue is a very common reason people visit their doctors, and it can significantly impact daily life and work safety. This guideline explains that fatigue can come from different causes—normal tiredness that improves with rest and better habits, fatigue from other medical conditions, or chronic fatigue like ME/CFS. ME/CFS is a serious, long-lasting illness with no proven cure that causes a symptom called postexertional malaise, where activity makes symptoms worse, so patients need to carefully manage their energy levels.

Long COVID OverlapPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusPEM unclearPreliminaryReview-NarrativeEditor reviewed

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Infection, EBV, HHV-6 and Other Factors May Contribute to Inflammation and Autoimmunity in Long COVID.

Vojdani, Aristo, Vojdani, Elroy, Saidara, Evan et al.·Viruses·2023

This review examines how long COVID—a condition where symptoms persist months after a coronavirus infection—may develop through similar mechanisms to ME/CFS. The authors suggest that viral persistence, reactivation of old herpes viruses (like Epstein-Barr virus), immune system dysfunction, and gut microbiome changes may all contribute to ongoing inflammation and autoimmune problems. They propose testing for antibodies and other markers to better identify and treat long COVID.

Gut MicrobiomeImmune SystemLong COVID Overlap

E0 ConsensusPEM unclearModerate confidenceEvidence-MapEditor reviewed

ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature

Anthony L. Komaroff, W. Ian Lipkin·Frontiers in Medicine·2023

Harvard and Columbia researchers conducted a comprehensive review of biological abnormalities in ME/CFS and Long COVID. They found striking overlaps in immune dysregulation, autonomic dysfunction, metabolic disruption, and neurological features. The paper maps the literature to guide researchers working across both conditions.

Immune SystemLong COVID Overlap

E0 ConsensusPEM not requiredModerate confidenceSystematic-ReviewEditor reviewed

The neurological symptoms of COVID-19: a systematic overview of systematic reviews, comparison with other neurological conditions and implications for healthcare services.

Wildwing, Tamar, Holt, Nicole·Therapeutic advances in chronic disease·2021

This study reviewed 45 existing research papers about neurological symptoms people experience with COVID-19. Researchers found that some COVID-19 patients develop long-lasting symptoms like fatigue and muscle pain that look very similar to ME/CFS and other neurological conditions. The authors suggest that doctors may need better training to recognize and treat these ongoing symptoms, and that healthcare services may need more resources to help patients.

Long COVID Overlap

E0 ConsensusPEM unclearPreliminarySystematic-ReviewEditor reviewed

Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)-A Systemic Review and Comparison of Clinical Presentation and Symptomatology.

Wong, Timothy L, Weitzer, Danielle J·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2021

Researchers reviewed 21 studies about Long COVID (symptoms lasting months after COVID-19 infection) and compared them to ME/CFS symptoms. They found that Long COVID patients reported 25 out of 29 known ME/CFS symptoms, suggesting these two conditions share many similarities. The study highlights the need for better monitoring and treatment of patients with Long COVID, and calls for more standardized research methods to understand both conditions better.

Long COVID Overlap

E2 ModeratePEM unclearModerate confidenceObservationalEditor reviewed

Elevated risk of new-onset chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis up to four years after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Hadidchi, Roham, Patel, Bhakti, Madan, Japji et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2025

This study found that people who had COVID-19 are more likely to develop ME/CFS in the years following infection compared to people who never had COVID-19. Women, and people with existing autoimmune or anxiety disorders, appear to be at higher risk. Importantly, having COVID-19 again did not increase the risk further, and blood tests during acute COVID were not able to predict who would later develop ME/CFS.

Long COVID Overlap

E2 ModeratePEM unclearModerate confidenceCross-SectionalEditor reviewed

Comparable Immune Alterations and Inflammatory Signatures in ME/CFS and Long COVID.

Petrov, Steliyan, Bozhkova, Martina, Ivanovska, Mariya et al.·Biomedicines·2025

This study compared immune system markers in people with ME/CFS and Long COVID to those of healthy individuals. Both patient groups showed similar immune problems: lower levels of protective immune cells and higher levels of inflammatory substances in their blood. The findings suggest that ME/CFS and Long COVID may involve very similar underlying immune dysfunction.

Immune SystemLong COVID Overlap

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredModerate confidenceCross-SectionalEditor reviewed

Unmasking the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 With a Focus on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Community-Based Study From India.

Gupta, Arti, Rajan, Vishnu, Aravindakshan, Rajeev et al.·Cureus·2025

This study looked at 500 COVID-19 survivors in rural India to see how many developed chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)—a condition causing severe, lasting tiredness and other symptoms. About 21% of the COVID-19 survivors developed CFS, with older people, women, and those with existing health conditions at higher risk. The study found that fatigue, joint pain, and muscle pain were common problems after COVID-19.

Long COVID Overlap

E2 ModeratePEM unclearModerate confidenceCross-SectionalEditor reviewed

Cognitive Impairments in Two Samples of Individuals with ME/CFS and Long COVID: A Comparative Analysis.

Sirotiak, Zoe, Adamowicz, Jenna L, Thomas, Emily B K·Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings·2025

This study looked at brain fog and concentration problems in people with ME/CFS and long COVID using data from over 27,000 Americans. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS are about 6 times more likely to experience cognitive difficulties like memory and concentration problems compared to people without these conditions, while long COVID increases the risk about 2 times. People who have both ME/CFS and long COVID together face even greater cognitive challenges.

Long COVID Overlap

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredModerate confidenceCross-SectionalEditor reviewed

Long-Term Impairment of Working Ability in Subjects under 60 Years of Age Hospitalised for COVID-19 at 2 Years of Follow-Up: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Frallonardo, Luisa, Ritacco, Annunziata Ilenia, Amendolara, Angela et al.·Viruses·2024

This study followed 322 people under age 60 who were hospitalized with COVID-19 and checked on them about 2 years later. Researchers found that 42% of these patients reported difficulty working compared to before they got sick, even though they had recovered from the acute infection. The study identified that women, people with diabetes, and those who needed oxygen during hospitalization were more likely to have lasting work problems.

Long COVID Overlap

E2 ModeratePEM unclearModerate confidenceObservationalEditor reviewed

Sleep and circadian rhythm alterations in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and post-COVID fatigue syndrome and its association with cardiovascular risk factors: A prospective cohort study.

Zerón-Rugerio, María Fernanda, Zaragozá, Maria Cleofé, Domingo, Joan Carles et al.·Chronobiology international·2024

This study looked at sleep patterns and daily body rhythms in ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had lower activity levels, worse sleep quality, and unhealthy cholesterol levels compared to healthy controls. The study also found that problems with blood vessel function may connect sleep disruptions to heart health problems in ME/CFS patients.

Long COVID Overlap

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredModerate confidenceObservationalEditor reviewed

Risk of chronic fatigue syndrome after COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study of 3227281 patients.

Chen, Chih-Wei, Lee, Hsun-Hua, Chang, Shu-Hao et al.·Journal of infection and public health·2024

This study looked at over 6 million patient records to compare people who had COVID-19 with people who didn't. Researchers found that people who had COVID-19 were about 1.6 times more likely to develop chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) afterward. The increased risk appeared in people of all ages, both sexes, and different racial backgrounds.

Long COVID Overlap

E2 ModeratePEM unclearModerate confidenceRegistry-ResourceEditor reviewed

Longterm course of neuropsychological symptoms and ME/CFS after SARS-CoV-2-infection: a prospective registry study.

Reuken, P A, Besteher, B, Finke, K et al.·European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience·2024

This study followed over 1,000 people who had long-lasting symptoms after COVID-19 infection. Researchers found that about 31% of patients met the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS at their first visit, but this dropped to 19% at a second visit months later. While patients reported feeling less fatigued and having fewer concentration problems over time, many continued to experience long-lasting symptoms that significantly affected their daily lives.

Cognitive ImpairmentLong COVID Overlap

E2 ModeratePEM requiredModerate confidenceLongitudinalEditor reviewed

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome After SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Unger, Elizabeth R, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Wisk, Lauren E et al.·JAMA network open·2024

This study followed over 4,300 people for up to 12 months to see whether COVID-19 infection caused ME/CFS-like symptoms. Researchers found that about 3-4% of people reported ME/CFS-like symptoms after their acute illness, but this rate was similar whether they had tested positive or negative for COVID-19. The results suggest that while some people do develop long-lasting symptoms after illness, COVID-19 may not be uniquely causing ME/CFS more often than other infections.

DiagnosticsLong COVID Overlap

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredModerate confidenceLongitudinalEditor reviewed

Three-Month Symptom Profiles Among Symptomatic Adults With Positive and Negative Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Tests: A Prospective Cohort Study From the INSPIRE Group.

Spatz, Erica S, Gottlieb, Michael, Wisk, Lauren E et al.·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2023

This study followed adults who tested positive or negative for COVID-19 and tracked their symptoms over three months. At the three-month mark, people who had COVID-19 were much more likely to still have symptoms like fatigue, breathing problems, or muscle pain compared to those who tested negative. Importantly, symptoms of post-infectious syndromes (like unrefreshing sleep and fatigue) were common in both groups, suggesting these symptoms can occur even without COVID-19 infection.

Long COVID Overlap

E2 ModeratePEM unclearModerate confidenceLongitudinalEditor reviewed

Fatigue presentation, severity, and related outcomes in a prospective cohort following post-COVID-19 hospitalization in British Columbia, Canada.

Magel, Tianna, Meagher, Emily, Boulter, Travis et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2023

This study followed 88 people who were hospitalized with COVID-19 to see how many experienced long-lasting fatigue afterward. Two-thirds of patients had fatigue at 3 months, though this improved somewhat by 6 months, with about 60% still experiencing it. People who had more existing health conditions before COVID-19 were more likely to develop fatigue, suggesting that previous health status may influence recovery.

Long COVID Overlap

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Evidence browser

Long COVID: lights and shadows on the clinical characterization of this emerging pathology.

Navigating the Spectrum of Two Pediatric COVID-19 Complications: Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children and Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Blood virome research in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: challenges and opportunities.

Diagnosis and Management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Fatigue in Adults: Evaluation and Management.

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Infection, EBV, HHV-6 and Other Factors May Contribute to Inflammation and Autoimmunity in Long COVID.

ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature

The neurological symptoms of COVID-19: a systematic overview of systematic reviews, comparison with other neurological conditions and implications for healthcare services.

Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)-A Systemic Review and Comparison of Clinical Presentation and Symptomatology.

Elevated risk of new-onset chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis up to four years after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Comparable Immune Alterations and Inflammatory Signatures in ME/CFS and Long COVID.

Unmasking the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 With a Focus on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Community-Based Study From India.

Cognitive Impairments in Two Samples of Individuals with ME/CFS and Long COVID: A Comparative Analysis.

Long-Term Impairment of Working Ability in Subjects under 60 Years of Age Hospitalised for COVID-19 at 2 Years of Follow-Up: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Sleep and circadian rhythm alterations in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and post-COVID fatigue syndrome and its association with cardiovascular risk factors: A prospective cohort study.

Risk of chronic fatigue syndrome after COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study of 3227281 patients.

Longterm course of neuropsychological symptoms and ME/CFS after SARS-CoV-2-infection: a prospective registry study.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome After SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Three-Month Symptom Profiles Among Symptomatic Adults With Positive and Negative Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Tests: A Prospective Cohort Study From the INSPIRE Group.

Fatigue presentation, severity, and related outcomes in a prospective cohort following post-COVID-19 hospitalization in British Columbia, Canada.

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