Tracker to help manage Long COVID energy levels created by researchers

Long COVID, sometimes called post-COVID syndrome, happens when the symptoms of COVID-19 last longer than 12 weeks. It's a new condition that's still being studied, and there’s currently no cure. According to the ONS an estimated two million people are living with Long Covid in England and Scotland.

In this study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and published in Nature Communications, people with Long COVID tried out a new app called “Pace Me” to help manage their energy levels.

The tool combines a wearable activity tracker (Fitbit watch) with an app that sends helpful messages throughout the day, reminding users when they may be doing too much.

The research was carried out by a team jointly led by Dr Nilihan Sanal-Hayes from the University of Salford with Dr Lawrence Hayes of Lancaster University and Professor Nicholas Sculthorpe from the University of the West of Scotland among others.

Dr Nilihan Sanal-Hayes, Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Salford, said: “Long COVID can be a debilitating condition, and many sufferers describe ‘push-crash’ cycles, where they might feel a bit better, but then find they push themselves too hard as a result and their symptoms return. We hope tools such as ours can help people understand their energy and activity levels better.

“This trial advances our understanding of how digital tools can support people living with Long COVID. While the intervention did not surpass standard care, it was safe, well accepted, and offers a promising foundation for future research in chronic conditions where recovery is less certain.”

The study split a total of 250 participants equally and at random between two groups. One group used the app with a wearable tracker that gave real-time feedback and alerts when they were close to doing too much. The control group used a “dummy” version of the app with only data entry screens (no tracking or alerts). The final analysis at the end of six months included 84 users of the app and 77 control participants using the “dummy” version.

The main symptom measured was post-exertional malaise (PEM), which is when symptoms get worse after physical or mental effort.

Over six months, both groups felt better overall. Participants exceeded their energy allowance on average for around 50 or so days over six months. Thirteen participants in the intervention group improved from PEM-positive to PEM-negative status while the numbers of intervention participants reporting PEM at baseline fell by 10%.

Dr Lawrence Hayes of Lancaster University said: “This study demonstrates the feasibility of using digital platforms for energy management in Long COVID. Although the intervention did not reduce PEM more than standard care, these results give us important clues for designing future digital health tools, especially for people with long-term conditions that involve fatigue and symptom flare-ups after activity. It lays the groundwork for future trials in conditions with more persistent symptoms, such as ME/CFS, lupus, MS, or other fatiguing conditions.

“In line with the Darzi report and NHS long-term plan, the platform could be adapted for other chronic illnesses with PEM-like symptoms, offering scalable, remote support for symptom management. The study also highlights the importance of tailoring digital interventions to the recovery trajectory of specific conditions.”