Chronic fatigue syndrome post-COVID-19: triple-blind randomised clinical trial of Astragalus root extract

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Astragalus root extract on nurses suffering from post-COVID-19 chronic fatigue syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a triple-blind, randomised, controlled trial in Iran in 2023. 64 chronic fatigue syndrome nurses were randomly assigned to one of two groups: an intervention group (n=32) that received Astragalus root extract (500 mg two times per day) or a control group (n=32) that received a placebo. Changes in chronic fatigue syndrome scores were measured before to, at the end of and 1 month after the intervention. Data were analysed using descriptive and analytical statistics (T-tests, chi(2), analysis of variances, Cochran's Q tests, McNemar and generalised estimating equations). RESULTS: In comparison to before, chronic fatigue prevalence decreased statistically significantly at the end of the intervention group (13.8) and 1 month later (17.2). Further, the frequency differed between before and after (p=0.0001) and 1 month later (p=0.0001). In the control group, chronic fatigue was statistically significantly different before and after the intervention (72.2; p=0.003). Having an underlying disease (B=0.84, OR=2.33; p=0.04) and being in the control group (B=2.15, OR=12.36; p=0.01) increased the risk of chronic fatigue, whereas increasing the length of time decreased it (B=-0.67, OR=0.50; p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Astragalus root extract has been shown to reduce chronic fatigue in nurses. Therefore, this herbal extract can be used to reduce the incidence and treatment of chronic fatigue in nurses.