Bazelmans, E, Vercoulen, J H, Swanink, C M et al. · Family practice · 1999 · DOI
This Dutch study surveyed general practitioners (GPs) to understand how often they see patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in their practices. About 60% of GPs responded, and most reported seeing patients with these conditions. The study estimated that roughly 112 out of every 100,000 people have CFS and 157 have FMS, though these numbers are likely underestimates since some cases may go unrecognized.
This study provides early epidemiological data on CFS prevalence in primary care settings, helping establish that these conditions are recognizable and present in general practice populations. Understanding how often GPs encounter CFS is important for resource allocation, healthcare planning, and demonstrating disease burden to policymakers and the medical community.
This study does not establish the true prevalence of CFS—only the prevalence as recognized by GPs—meaning many cases likely went undiagnosed and uncounted. The survey cannot prove that GPs' recognition is accurate or that diagnostic criteria were uniformly applied. It also does not explain causes, disease mechanisms, or differences in how individual GPs identify these conditions.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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