Table 1.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of this study’s population.
| PCS-ME/CFS (n = 78, Median with Range) |
PCS-Non-ME/CFS (n = 66, Median with Range) |
ME/CFS vs. Non-ME/CFS |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 40 (20–61) | 44 (18–67) | p = 0.585 |
| BMI | 23.71 (14.88–37.97) | 24.13 (17.65–41.64) | p = 0.675 |
| Time since COVID-19 (months) | 10 (6–25) | 10.5 (6–23) | p = 0.847 |
| Bell | 40 (20–90) | 50 (20–80) | p < 0.001 *** |
| CFQ | 28.5 (13–33) | 25 (0–33) | p < 0.001 *** |
| PEM-DSQ | 34 (12–46) | 28 (0–44) | p < 0.001 *** |
| SF-36 | |||
| Physical Functioning | 40 (0–95) | 60 (0–100) | p < 0.001 *** |
| Role Limitations | 0 (0–100) | 0 (0–100) | p = 0.107 |
| Energy | 15 (0–80) | 20 (0–60) | p < 0.001 *** |
| Pain | 32.5 (0–100) | 38.75 (0–100) | p = 0.064 |
| Symptom Severity | |||
| Muscle Pain | 6 (1–10) | 6 (1–10) | p = 0.324 |
| Headache | 7 (1–10) | 6 (1–10) | p = 0.115 |
| Joint Pain | 5 (1–10) | 6 (1–10) | p = 0.647 |
| Fatigue Score | 8 (1–10) | 7 (1–10) | p < 0.001 *** |
| Cognitive Score | 6.67 (1.33–10) | 6.5 (1–10) | p = 0.196 |
| Immune Score | 3.33 (1–8.67) | 2.33 (1–9) | p = 0.006 ** |
| COMPASS 31 | 40.80(0–76.23) | 30.64 (0–62.22) | p = 0.002 ** |
| Orthostatic Intolerance | 22 (0–40) | 16 (0–36) | p = 0.006 ** |
| Vasomotor | 0 (0–5) | 0 (0–3.33) | p = 0.003 ** |
| Secretomotor | 4.29 (0–12.86) | 4.29 (0–12.86) | p = 0.485 |
| Gastrointestinal | 6.25 (0–15.18) | 6.25 (0–17.86) | p = 0.187 |
| Bladder | 1.12 (0–7.78) | 1.11 (0–7.78) | p = 0.309 |
| Pupillomotor | 1.67 (0–4) | 1.67 (1–5) | p = 0.634 |
| Hand Grip Strength (in kg) | |||
| Fmax 1 | 20.1 (5.7–43.6) | 19.2 (4.7–33.8) | p = 0.884 |
| Fmax 2 | 18.25 (1.9–41.2) | 17.1 (3.10–34.6) | p = 0.477 |
| Fmean 1 | 16.6 (3.19–38.99) | 16.07 (4.14–31.85) | p = 0.938 |
| Fmean 2 | 15.07 (1.37–39.05) | 14.51 (2.32–30.88) | p = 0.990 |
| Fatigue Ratio 1 | 1.18 (1.01–3.23) | 1.17 (1.03–2.11) | p = 0.642 |
| Fatigue Ratio 2 | 1.2 (1.04–2.24) | 1.17 (1.03–2.0) | p = 0.035 * |
| Recovery Ratio | 0.95 (0.26–1.67) | 0.95 (0.47–1.24) | p = 0.674 |
Asterisks mark significant differences between groups (Mann–Whitney test, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001). BMI, body mass index; CFQ; Chalder Fatigue Scale; COMPASS 31; Composite Autonomic Symptom Score; fatigue ratio 1/2, ratio of Fmax/Fmean of the first/second session; Fmax 1/2, maximum hand grip strength of the first/second session; Fmean 1/2, mean hand grip strength of the first/second session; ME/CFS, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome; PCS, post-COVID syndrome; PEM-DSQ; De Paul Symptom Questionnaire for Postexertional Malaise; recovery ratio, ratio of Fmean2/Fmean1, SF-36, Short-Form 36 Health Survey.