Vahratian, Anjel, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Bertolli, Jeanne et al. · NCHS data brief · 2023
This study looked at how many adults in the United States had ME/CFS during 2021-2022 by surveying a large, representative group of people. Researchers found that ME/CFS affects people across all ages, races, and ethnic groups. The study also showed that ME/CFS costs the U.S. economy between $18-51 billion each year.
This is one of the few large-scale, nationally representative prevalence studies of ME/CFS in the U.S., providing current epidemiologic data essential for understanding disease burden and healthcare planning. The study's findings on economic costs and broad population impact help validate ME/CFS as a significant public health concern and support advocacy for research funding and clinical resources.
This study does not establish causes of ME/CFS, mechanisms of disease, or why certain demographic groups may have different rates. It also cannot determine whether reported symptoms meet strict clinical criteria such as post-exertional malaise, since it relies on survey responses rather than clinical evaluation. Cross-sectional design means we cannot determine who will develop ME/CFS or how the condition progresses over time.
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 →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Vahratian, Anjel, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Bertolli, Jeanne, & Unger, Elizabeth R (2023). Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Adults: United States, 2021-2022.. NCHS data brief. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38085820/
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-vahratian-2023-myalgic-encephalomyelitis,
author = {Vahratian, Anjel and Lin, Jin-Mann S and Bertolli, Jeanne and Unger, Elizabeth R},
title = {Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Adults: United States, 2021-2022.},
journal = {NCHS data brief},
year = {2023},
note = {PubMed: 38085820},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/vahratian-2023-myalgic-encephalomyelitis},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-28. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/vahratian-2023-myalgic-encephalomyelitis
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