Effect of Metformin in Reducing Fatigue in Long COVID in Adolescents

Long Covid is a multisystem condition comprising often severe symptoms that follow a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Long COVID often manifests as fatigue and neurocognitive impairment (also referred to as 'brain fog'). Based on two systematic reviews of Covid-19 cases in neonates, children and adolescents under 19 years of age, fatigue caused by Long Covid can persist for years and can lead to work disability and labour shortages, posing a public health emergency with lasting health, mental, and economic impacts. To date, no treatment has shown to be broadly effective for the treatment of Long Covid. An experimental study has demonstrated that metformin, a common diabetes drug, might reduce the incidence of long COVID if given during the acute phase of COVID-19. The study, however, did not look at whether metformin would be effective as a treatment for those who already have long COVID. It also did not report the results by age groups, so it is not clear if the effect of metformin differs for people younger than 35 years of age. Therefore, a pilot, adaptive randomized controlled trial, which will evaluate the feasibility of conducting a large platform trial and will also evaluate the efficacy and safety of using metformin (versus placebo, a look-alike substance with no active ingredient) in managing fatigue in long COVID adolescent patients with persistent (long term) features of fatigue (chronic fatigue syndrome) has been proposed.

Shortly after the beginning of the COVID-19 global pandemic, reports emerged showing that some individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 developed persistent symptoms and new health problems that arose long after the acute phase of infection and could not be explained by other factors. The patient community who first recognized and reported this new syndrome used the term 'long COVID' to describe the post-acute and chronic sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Long COVID (sometimes referred to as 'post-acute sequelae of COVID-19') is a multisystem condition comprising often severe symptoms that follow a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This condition affects all individuals ubiquitously regardless of their race, age, gender, baseline health status and the severity of their initial COVID infection. As reported by the two systematic reviews of the total COVID-19 cases of neonates, children, and adolescents aged less than 19 years since the start of the pandemic, the persistent clinical features spectrum of long COVID is wide with fatigue having the second highest percentage of persistent long COVID symptoms within this age group. Long COVID symptoms can last for years, particularly in cases for chronic fatigue syndrome/dysautonomia which can be lifelong. Therefore, significant proportions of individuals have been unable to return to work which has even to led to labour shortages. Consequently, long COVID is considered a public health emergency that can have lasting health, mental health, and economic sequelae.

Since, the clinical trials done so far have not been prioritized to understand the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention in marginalized populations such as adolescents and because of the high disability associated with this condition, research targeting this age group for the management of long COVID is needed. There are currently no approved therapies for long COVID; however, treatments for certain components have been effective for subsets of populations. Metformin has been proposed in this study as a potential avenue for the management of chronic fatigue that is associated with long COVID. It has clinical benefits when used as an outpatient treatment for COVID-19 and is globally available, has a low-cost, and is safe. A study that was conducted recently had reported that its use in patients infected with COVID could reduce the incidence of long COVID. However, since this study had only focused on older individuals who were already infected with COVID, a pilot trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of metformin in younger individuals with long COVID is warranted.

Therefore, a pilot, adaptive randomized controlled trial has been proposed, which will evaluate the feasibility of conducting a large platform trial and will also evaluate the efficacy and safety of using metformin versus placebo, (since there's no approved therapy for it) in managing fatigue in long COVID adolescent patients with persistent features of fatigue (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 10 to 18 years at time of screening
* Willing and able to provide written informed consent, or with a legal representative who can provide informed consent (where locally and nationally approved)
* Previous confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 infection (e.g., communicates that they previously had a positive nucleic acid amplification test or had a positive professional use or self-test SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen diagnostic test)
* New or worsening symptoms since acute COVID-19 illness that have persisted for a duration of at least 90 days but less than 365 days
* Not currently hospitalized or requiring hospitalization
* Patients with childbearing potential or with partners of childbearing potential must agree to use adequate methods of contraception during the trial and through 90 days of follow-up
* Able to complete the questionnaires
* Reports moderate to severe fatigue, defined as a score of 75 or lower on the PedsQL-MFS
* Fatigue symptoms have been present for at least 90 days since time of COVID-19 infection
* Fatigue symptoms are not attributable to another cause (in opinion of investigator)
* Willingness to follow the trial procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

* Known active acute SARS-CoV-2 infection
* Known prior diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, not related to SARS-CoV-2 infection
* Known pre-existing dysautonomia, not related to SARS-CoV-2 infection
* Diabetes
* Known stroke within 3 months of screening
* Known severe anemia, defined as \< 8 g/dL21
* Known diagnosis of Lyme disease
* Any non-marijuana illicit drug use within 30 days prior to informed consent
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Current co-morbid psychiatric disorder (e.g. clinical depression, anxiety, sleep disorder, eating disorder, substance abuse) that is uncontrolled and associated with significant symptoms or that requires a prohibited medication
* Taking medications with known side effect of chronic fatigue
* Contraindications to metformin
* Patients with a history of seizures may participate if they have not occurred in the last 60 days and are stable, under pharmacological control
* Any condition that would make the patient, in the opinion of the investigator, unsuitable for the trial