In Vivo Investigation on Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Post-COVID Fatigue and Cancer Fatigue.

Summary

To date, little is understood regarding post-COVID fatigue or cancer fatigue though it is known to affect a large proportion of patients (10-70% depending on the population). This study aims to investigate potential mitochondrial function and metabolic changes in brain to provide further information regarding the etiology of these changes leading to fatigue.

This study hypothesized that Post-COVID fatigue is ensued by perturbations in metabolism and mitochondrial function in the brain.

This is a case-control study. In this study, 30 patients (experimental group) complaining of persistent fatigue lasting longer than 4 weeks after recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection and the age/gender-matched control of 30 healthy subjects (control group 1) and 30 patients suffering from cancer-related fatigue patients longer than 4 weeks after remission (control group 2). Both the experimental group (post-COVID fatigue) and control group 2 (cancer fatigue) will be recruited from NUH outpatient clinic will undergo a session of MRI, 3D Arterial Spin Labelling (ASL) and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and the Chalder Fatigue Scale, Health Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale at baseline and follow-up visit.

Conditions

• Mitochondrial Dysfunction
• COVID-19
• Fatigue

Interventions

OTHER

MRI/ 3D Arterial Spin Labelling (ASL) and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)

MRI/ 3D Arterial Spin Labelling (ASL) and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to assess metabolic and mitochondrial perturbations in post-COVID fatigue or cancer fatigue.

OTHER

Chalder Fatigue Scale

The Chalder Fatigue Scale is used for measuring the extent and severity of fatigue within both clinical and non-clinical, epidemiological populations.

OTHER

Health Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L)

The Health Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) is a self-report survey that measures quality of life across 5 domains: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Each dimension is scored on a 5-level severity ranking that ranges from "no problems" through "extreme problems."

OTHER

Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale is a multiple-item questionnaire used to provide an indication of depression, and as a guide to evaluate recovery.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National University of Singapore

  collaborator OTHER

• National University Hospital, Singapore

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jeong Hoon K Lim, MD · National University Hospital, Singapore

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

21 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-12-09

Primary Completion

2023-12-08

Completion

2023-12-08

Countries

• Singapore

Study Locations