Table 1 Comparison of recovered and improved patients with those who did not show recovery/improvement
From: The relevance of pacing strategies in managing symptoms of post-COVID-19 syndrome
|  | Patients’ groups | p-values | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recovered (R) | Improved (I) | Not recovered/improved (no-R/I) | R vs. no-R/I | I vs. no-R/I | |
Demographic characteristics | |||||
 Patients, n (%) | 29 (33.7%) | 20 (23.3%) | 37 (43%) |  |  |
 Female, n (%) | 19 (65.5%) | 16 (80%) | 35 (94.6%) | 0.002 | 0.086 |
 Age at disease onset, years | 41 [31–50] | 41 [32–45] | 41 [34–49] | 0.529 | 0.428 |
 Diagnostic delay, months | 9 [6–13] | 11 [6–17] | 15 [9–18] | 0.047 | 0.420 |
 Time of follow-up, months | 9 [6–12] | 11 [6–14] | 9 [6–12] | 0.601 | 0.275 |
Clinical manifestations, n (%) | |||||
 Fatigue | 29 (100%) | 20 (100%) | 36 (97.3%) | 0.372 | 0.458 |
 Post-exertional malaise | 8 (27.6%) | 7 (35%) | 17 (45.9%) | 0.126 | 0.424 |
 Fever | 2 (6.9%) | 1 (5%) | 4 (10.8%) | 0.687 | 0.647 |
 Chills/ sweats /flushing | 10 (34.5%) | 12 (60%) | 16 (43.2%) | 0.469 | 0.227 |
 Thromboembolic disorders | 0 (0%) | 1 (5%) | 3 (8.1%) | 0.249 |  > 0.99 |
 Dyspnea | 15 (51.7%) | 8 (40%) | 23 (62.2%) | 0.394 | 0.108 |
 Cough | 5 (17.2%) | 1 (5%) | 12 (32.4%) | 0.256 | 0.021 |
 Chest tightness/pain | 7 (24.1%) | 4 (20%) | 6 (16.2%) | 0.421 | 0.728 |
 Cognitive impairment | 12 (41.4%) | 13 (65%) | 25 (67.6%) | 0.033 | 0.844 |
 Brain fog | 9 (31%) | 14 (70%) | 19 (51.4%) | 0.097 | 0.173 |
 Headaches/brain pressure sensation | 12 (41.4%) | 14 (70%) | 18 (48.6%) | 0.556 | 0.121 |
 Neurosensory disturbances | 1 (3.4%) | 0 (0%) | 4 (10.8%) | 0.374 | 0.286 |
 Vertigo/dizziness/balance problems | 6 (20.7%) | 8 (40%) | 13 (35.1%) | 0.198 | 0.716 |
 Sleep disorders | 11 (37.9%) | 12 (60%) | 16 (43.2%) | 0.663 | 0.227 |
 Sore throat | 8 (27.6%) | 2 (10%) | 7 (18.9%) | 0.404 | 0.470 |
 Dysphonia | 0 (0%) | 1 (5%) | 0 (0%) |  > 0.99 | 0.350 |
 Dysphagia | 1 (3.4%) | 1 (5%) | 1 (2.7%) |  > 0.99 |  > 0.99 |
 Rhinorrhea | 5 (17.2%) | 1 (5%) | 4 (10.8%) | 0.490 | 0.647 |
 Anosmia | 5 (17.2%) | 4 (20%) | 4 (10.8%) | 0.490 | 0.431 |
 Ageusia | 5 (17.2%) | 4 (20%) | 2 (5.4%) | 0.490 | 0.169 |
 Myalgia | 18 (62.1%) | 13 (65%) | 22 (59.5%) | 0.639 | 0.681 |
 Arthralgia | 5 (17.2%) | 6 (30%) | 9 (24.3%) | 0.555 | 0.642 |
 Numbness/tingling | 2 (6.9%) | 2 (10%) | 3 (8.1%) |  > 0.99 |  > 0.99 |
 Mood disorders | 11 (37.9%) | 8 (40%) | 16 (43.2%) | 0.801 | 0.812 |
 Gastrointestinal disorders | 5 (17.2%) | 5 (25%) | 8 (21.6%) | 0.656 | 0.771 |
 Palpitation | 10 (34.5%) | 9 (45%) | 19 (51.4%) | 0.140 | 0.647 |
 Conjunctivitis | 1 (3.4%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (2.7%) |  > 0.99 |  > 0.99 |
Associated conditions, n (%) | |||||
 Myalgic encephalomyelitis | 8 (27.6%) | 7 (35%) | 17 (45.9%) | 0.126 | 0.424 |
 Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome | 3 (10.3%) | 6 (30%) | 5 (13.5%) |  > 0.99 | 0.358 |
 Mast cell activation | 10 (34.5%) | 10 (50%) | 16 (43.2%) | 0.469 | 0.624 |
Baseline fatigue assessment | |||||
 Baseline FSSa score | 6.8 [6.3–7] | 6.8 [6.6–7] | 7 [6.8–7] | 0.109 | 0.234 |
 Degree of adherence to pacing | |||||
 Engagement in pacing subscale score | 4.4 [4–4.8] | 4.1 [4–4.4] | 3 [2.8–3.2] |  < 0.001 |  < 0.001 |