Rusu, C, Gee, M E, Lagacé, C et al. · Health promotion and chronic disease prevention in Canada : research, policy and practice · 2015 · DOI
This study looked at how many Canadians have ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) or fibromyalgia, and how these conditions affect their overall health. Researchers surveyed over 59,000 Canadians and found that about 1.4% have ME/CFS and 1.5% have fibromyalgia, with some people having both conditions. People with these conditions reported significantly worse health than those without them, especially when they had other illnesses at the same time.
This study provides the first large-scale, population-based Canadian prevalence estimates for ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, establishing these as significant public health conditions affecting approximately 1.4–1.5% of the population. By documenting clear associations between these conditions and multiple health status domains, the research highlights the substantial burden these diseases impose and underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions, particularly for patients with overlapping conditions.
This study cannot establish causation—it only shows associations between ME/CFS/fibromyalgia and health outcomes. The cross-sectional design means we cannot determine whether these conditions cause poor health status or whether pre-existing health problems increase vulnerability to developing ME/CFS or fibromyalgia. Additionally, reliance on physician diagnosis may underestimate true prevalence, as many cases may be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
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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