ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2795 studies

341–360 of 2,795 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Untargeted Metabolomics and Quantitative Analysis of Tryptophan Metabolites in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Patients and Healthy Volunteers: A Comparative Study Using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

Abujrais, Sandy, Vallianatou, Theodosia, Bergquist, Jonas·ACS chemical neuroscience·2024

Researchers compared blood chemistry between 38 people with ME/CFS and 24 healthy people to understand what might be different in their bodies. They found several chemical imbalances, particularly in how the body processes tryptophan (an amino acid) and in pathways related to energy production and inflammation. These differences suggest that ME/CFS patients may experience unusual immune activity and stress damage to their cells.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Impact on Quality of Life (QoL) of Persons with ME/CFS.

Muirhead, Nina L, Vyas, Jui, Ephgrave, Rachel et al.·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2024

This study surveyed 876 people with ME/CFS from 26 countries to understand how the condition affects their daily lives. People with ME/CFS reported very poor quality of life, with an average health rating of 36 out of 100. The most common problems were difficulty doing everyday activities (97%), pain (92%), and trouble with movement (83%).

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The association between Long-COVID symptomology, perceived symptom burden and mental health in COVID-19 patients in Shijiazhuang, China: a population-based health survey.

Li, Yufei, Lam, Lawrence T, Xiao, Ying et al.·Frontiers in psychiatry·2024

This study looked at 25% of COVID-19 patients in China who had symptoms lasting longer than two months after infection. Researchers found that patients with more Long-COVID symptoms—especially fatigue and post-exertional malaise (feeling worse after activity)—were more likely to experience depression and anxiety. The more severe patients felt their symptoms were, the greater their mental health struggles.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Assessing health state utilities for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in Australia using the EQ-5D-5L, AQoL-8D and EQ-5D-5L-psychosocial instruments.

Orji, Nneka C, Cox, Ingrid A, Jason, Leonard A et al.·Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation·2024

This study measured how much ME/CFS affects quality of life in 198 Australian people with the condition. Researchers used three different questionnaires to assess health-related quality of life and found that people with ME/CFS reported significantly lower quality of life scores compared to healthy people. As people's fatigue and disability became more severe, their quality of life scores dropped further.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Risk of chronic fatigue syndrome after COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study of 3227281 patients.

Chen, Chih-Wei, Lee, Hsun-Hua, Chang, Shu-Hao et al.·Journal of infection and public health·2024

This study looked at over 6 million patient records to compare people who had COVID-19 with people who didn't. Researchers found that people who had COVID-19 were about 1.6 times more likely to develop chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) afterward. The increased risk appeared in people of all ages, both sexes, and different racial backgrounds.

Long COVID Overlap

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain: A Potential Biomarker for Neurological Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Azcue, Naiara, Tijero-Merino, Beatriz, Acera, Marian et al.·Biomedicines·2024

Researchers measured a protein called neurofilament light chain (NfL) in the blood of ME/CFS patients and healthy people. They found that ME/CFS patients had higher levels of this protein, which suggests nerve damage in the brain and nervous system. The patients with higher NfL levels also had more problems with memory, thinking clearly, and with their autonomic nervous system (the part that controls heart rate and other automatic body functions).

Autonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not required

The influence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) family history on patients with ME/CFS.

Jason, Leonard A, Ngonmedje, Sarah·Exploration of medicine·2024

This study looked at whether ME/CFS runs in families and if people with ME/CFS who have a family history of the disease are different from those without it. Researchers compared 400 ME/CFS patients with 414 people who had other chronic illnesses like multiple sclerosis or post-polio syndrome. They found that ME/CFS is much more common in families (18% of ME/CFS patients had relatives with ME/CFS) compared to the control groups (3.9%), and those with a family history of ME/CFS were more likely to experience stomach and digestive problems.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredLongitudinal

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome After SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Unger, Elizabeth R, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Wisk, Lauren E et al.·JAMA network open·2024

This study followed over 4,300 people for up to 12 months to see whether COVID-19 infection caused ME/CFS-like symptoms. Researchers found that about 3-4% of people reported ME/CFS-like symptoms after their acute illness, but this rate was similar whether they had tested positive or negative for COVID-19. The results suggest that while some people do develop long-lasting symptoms after illness, COVID-19 may not be uniquely causing ME/CFS more often than other infections.

DiagnosticsLong COVID Overlap

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Comparison of the symptom networks of long-COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome: From modularity to connectionism.

Hyland, Michael E, Antonacci, Yuri, Bacon, Alison M·Scandinavian journal of psychology·2024

This study compared how symptoms are connected to each other in long-COVID and ME/CFS patients, along with people who have other conditions like fibromyalgia and IBS. Researchers found that while long-COVID and ME/CFS are related conditions, their symptoms connect differently—ME/CFS symptoms form more separate clusters, whereas long-COVID symptoms are more tightly linked together. The study suggests that these conditions may work through a network-like system in the body rather than a single broken mechanism.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredLongitudinal

Cognitive assessment in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): a cognitive substudy of the multi-site clinical assessment of ME/CFS (MCAM).

Lange, Gudrun, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Chen, Yang et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2024

This study tested cognitive function (thinking and memory skills) in 261 people with ME/CFS and 165 healthy people using a computer-based screening test. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS process information more slowly than healthy people, but their accuracy was similar. Importantly, a single intense exercise test did not make cognitive problems worse, though the full clinic visit itself did cause some cognitive decline in both groups.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Association of physical symptoms with accelerometer-measured movement behaviors and functional capacity in individuals with Long COVID.

Rosa-Souza, Francisco José, Freire, Yuri Alberto, Galliano, Leony Morgana et al.·Scientific reports·2024

This study looked at 102 people with Long COVID to understand how specific symptoms affect their ability to move and be physically active. Researchers used activity trackers to measure daily movement and tested how far people could walk and how quickly they could stand up from a chair. They found that fatigue and post-exertional malaise (feeling worse after activity) were linked to lower daily step counts, while shortness of breath was linked to poorer performance on physical tests.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

Muscle abnormalities worsen after post-exertional malaise in long COVID.

Appelman, Brent, Charlton, Braeden T, Goulding, Richie P et al.·Nature communications·2024

This study looked at muscle tissue changes in long COVID patients, particularly focusing on post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the worsening of fatigue and pain after activity. Researchers found that muscles in long COVID patients showed structural damage, metabolic problems, and unusual deposits that got worse after activity triggered PEM. These findings help explain why exertion makes symptoms worse in some long COVID patients.

Energy MetabolismPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

[The Significance of Chronic Fatigue in the Post-Covid Consultation and its Consequences for Outpatient Rehabilitation in the Context of Statutory Accident Insurance].

Dalichau, Stefan, Kordy, Henrike, Klüver, Janna et al.·Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik, medizinische Psychologie·2024

This study looked at 454 people (mostly women aged 40–60) who developed long-term fatigue after COVID-19. Nearly all of them reported severe tiredness, and over 73% also experienced brain fog. The fatigue lasted about 14–15 months on average and significantly affected their ability to work and enjoy daily life. The researchers recommend that treatment should focus on managing chronic fatigue similar to ME/CFS, using education and practical coping strategies rather than trying to 'cure' the condition.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModeratePEM unclearRegistry-Resource

The German Multicenter Registry for ME/CFS (MECFS-R).

Hieber, Hannah, Pricoco, Rafael, Gerrer, Katrin et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2024

German researchers created a registry to collect detailed health information from ME/CFS patients across multiple medical centers. In their first group of 174 patients, they found that most had a viral illness before developing ME/CFS, with nearly half triggered by COVID-19. Patients reported severe fatigue and greatly reduced quality of life, with significant limitations in daily activities.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

How Long Is Long COVID? Evaluation of Long-Term Health Status in Individuals Discharged from a Specialist Community Long COVID Service.

Bodey, Rochelle, Grimaldi, Jennifer, Tait, Hannah et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2024

This study followed people who had received specialist care for long COVID and were then discharged from the service. Nearly 3 years after their initial COVID infection, most patients (90%) still had long COVID symptoms and hadn't returned to their normal health. About 4 in 10 of these patients also met the criteria for ME/CFS, suggesting long COVID can develop into a lasting condition similar to ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Two Different Hemodynamic Responses in ME/CFS Patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome During Head-Up Tilt Testing.

van Campen, C Linda M C, Rowe, Peter C, Visser, Frans C·Journal of clinical medicine·2024

This study looked at how the bodies of ME/CFS patients with POTS (a condition causing rapid heart rate when standing) respond to positional changes differently than healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients with POTS fall into two groups: those with a smaller heart rate increase appear to have blood pooling in their legs, while those with a larger heart rate increase seem to have an overactive stress response system. These two different patterns might benefit from different treatments.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Impaired Hand Grip Strength Correlates with Greater Disability and Symptom Severity in Post-COVID Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Paffrath, Anna, Kim, Laura, Kedor, Claudia et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2024

Researchers tested hand grip strength in 144 women with long-COVID symptoms, comparing those who met strict ME/CFS criteria (78 patients) with those who had other long-COVID symptoms. People with ME/CFS showed weaker grip strength and more severe disability, fatigue, and symptom worsening after activity compared to other long-COVID patients. Weak grip strength appeared to be connected to the core symptoms that define ME/CFS, suggesting muscle weakness in ME/CFS may share a common cause with other hallmark symptoms.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses during a 2-day CPET in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: translating reduced oxygen consumption to impairment status to treatment considerations.

Keller, Betsy, Receno, Candace N, Franconi, Carl J et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2024

This study tested 84 people with ME/CFS and 71 healthy controls on an exercise bike on two days, 24 hours apart. People with ME/CFS performed worse on the second day of testing—their oxygen use, heart rate, and exercise capacity all declined—while healthy people stayed about the same. This objective decline mirrors the real-world experience of post-exertional malaise, where ME/CFS patients feel worse after physical activity.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Immunological Patient Stratification in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Rohrhofer, Johanna, Hauser, Lisa, Lettenmaier, Lisa et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2024

This study found that ME/CFS patients have different types of immune system problems. Researchers divided patients into two groups: those with weakened immune systems and those with normal immune systems. The two groups showed different patterns of illness—one group had low levels of a protective immune protein, while the other group had signs that their gut barrier was leaking. This suggests that ME/CFS may not be one disease but rather multiple conditions that need different treatment approaches.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Psychometric evaluation of the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire-Short Form (DSQ-SF) among adults with Long COVID, ME/CFS, and healthy controls: A machine learning approach.

McGarrigle, William J, Furst, Jacob, Jason, Leonard A·Journal of health psychology·2024

Researchers tested whether a symptom questionnaire called the DSQ-SF can accurately identify and distinguish between Long COVID, ME/CFS, and healthy people. Using computer algorithms to analyze the results, they found the questionnaire works well at telling these groups apart and identified which specific symptoms are most helpful for telling Long COVID and ME/CFS apart from each other and from normal health.

Diagnostics

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Untargeted Metabolomics and Quantitative Analysis of Tryptophan Metabolites in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Patients and Healthy Volunteers: A Comparative Study Using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Impact on Quality of Life (QoL) of Persons with ME/CFS.

The association between Long-COVID symptomology, perceived symptom burden and mental health in COVID-19 patients in Shijiazhuang, China: a population-based health survey.

Assessing health state utilities for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in Australia using the EQ-5D-5L, AQoL-8D and EQ-5D-5L-psychosocial instruments.

Risk of chronic fatigue syndrome after COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study of 3227281 patients.

Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain: A Potential Biomarker for Neurological Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

The influence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) family history on patients with ME/CFS.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome After SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Comparison of the symptom networks of long-COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome: From modularity to connectionism.

Cognitive assessment in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): a cognitive substudy of the multi-site clinical assessment of ME/CFS (MCAM).

Association of physical symptoms with accelerometer-measured movement behaviors and functional capacity in individuals with Long COVID.

Muscle abnormalities worsen after post-exertional malaise in long COVID.

[The Significance of Chronic Fatigue in the Post-Covid Consultation and its Consequences for Outpatient Rehabilitation in the Context of Statutory Accident Insurance].

The German Multicenter Registry for ME/CFS (MECFS-R).

How Long Is Long COVID? Evaluation of Long-Term Health Status in Individuals Discharged from a Specialist Community Long COVID Service.

Two Different Hemodynamic Responses in ME/CFS Patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome During Head-Up Tilt Testing.

Impaired Hand Grip Strength Correlates with Greater Disability and Symptom Severity in Post-COVID Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses during a 2-day CPET in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: translating reduced oxygen consumption to impairment status to treatment considerations.

Immunological Patient Stratification in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Psychometric evaluation of the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire-Short Form (DSQ-SF) among adults with Long COVID, ME/CFS, and healthy controls: A machine learning approach.

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