While post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) shares many commonalities with ME/CFS, PCS research has not assessed the use of pacing strategies for managing the condition. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of pacing strategies in PCS patients.
This retrospective study included 86 patients whose PCS diagnosis satisfied WHO diagnostic criteria. Following initial assessments, patients were advised to engage in pacing strategies based on the three pacing pillars. These were defined as staying within energy limits, preventing PEM through identification of PEM triggers, and cautiously increasing activity only once stabilisation of symptoms had occurred. Recovery was defined as the complete remission of PCS symptoms and achievement of pre-illness functionality (including return to work either full or part-time). Improvement was defined as a reduction in either the number or severity of symptoms, but unable to return to work. Based on these definitions, the sample included 29 people who had recovered and returned to work, 20 people who experienced improvement, and 37 people who experienced no improvement. The study involved following up with these people to examine their health status, fatigue and symptom levels, work status and adherence to pacing strategies.
Results showed that PCS patients with high-pacing adherence experienced significantly greater rates of recovery and improvement than those with low or moderate-pacing adherence. Fatigue scores decreased significantly across the three groups between baseline and follow-up, though they were significantly higher in the No Improvement group at follow-up. Pacing adherence was the only variable significantly associated with recovery.
