Fatigue is one of the most common and most debilitating symptoms of Long COVID. It can impair physical and cognitive functioning, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life. At the same time, fatigue is difficult to measure, and its severity can fluctuate considerably throughout the day. Until now, its assessment has relied mainly on questionnaires. The University of Zurich's FIDO research project is therefore investigating whether digital technologies can provide additional objective information. Using specially developed wearable sensors and a smartphone app, researchers collect data on physical activity, heart rate, heart rate variability, sleep, as well as stress levels, symptoms, diet and other lifestyle factors.
Wearable sensors and a smartphone app
The study is recruiting adults aged between 18 and 65 with physician-confirmed Long COVID, as well as healthy volunteers to serve as a comparison group. Additional inclusion and exclusion criteria apply to the Long COVID group and will be assessed by the study team.
Participants need a smartphone running at least iOS 16 or Android 10 and must be fluent in either German or English.
Participation lasts eight weeks and includes two visits to the Lengg Clinic in Zurich. During the first visit, participants complete questionnaires, neuropsychological assessments, autonomic nervous system measurements and short smartphone-based tasks. Afterwards, they wear a sensor on the upper arm and an Apple Watch on the wrist, ideally around the clock. Both devices are provided by the study and must be returned at the end of participation.
Eight weeks of data collection
Throughout the eight-week study period, participants report their fatigue levels four times a day using the FIDO app and answer brief questions about their sleep every morning and evening. Every two days, they complete a finger-tapping task and a short cognitive task. Participants can also log their meals, activities and symptoms.
After four and eight weeks, participants submit a stool sample to investigate possible links between the gut microbiome and fatigue. During the second clinic visit, the measurements are repeated and participants provide feedback on their experience using the app.
While participants should not expect any direct health benefits, the study aims to improve our understanding of fatigue and evaluate digital methods for measuring it objectively.
Those interested in participating can contact the study team at fido@dsi.uzh.ch or by phone at +41 77 414 11 74.
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