ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2795 studies

401–420 of 2,795 studies

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Adults: United States, 2021-2022.

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.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Recovery and symptom trajectories up to two years after SARS-CoV-2 infection: population based, longitudinal cohort study.

Ballouz, Tala, Menges, Dominik, Anagnostopoulos, Alexia et al.·BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2023

This Swiss study followed over 1,100 people who had COVID-19 and compared them to people who never had the infection, tracking their recovery for two years. About 23% of infected people had not fully recovered by six months, and this number decreased only slightly to 17% by two years. Symptoms like loss of taste/smell, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and post-exertional malaise (feeling worse after physical activity) were significantly more common in people who had COVID-19 compared to those who didn't.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The association between the number of symptoms and the severity of Post-COVID-Fatigue after SARS-CoV-2 infection treated in an outpatient setting.

Schmidbauer, Lena, Kirchberger, Inge, Goßlau, Yvonne et al.·Journal of neurology·2023

This study looked at 425 people who had mild-to-moderate COVID-19 treated as outpatients and followed them for about 8 months afterward. Researchers found that 37% of these people developed long-lasting fatigue (Post-COVID-Fatigue), and those who had more symptoms during their initial infection and ongoing symptoms were more likely to experience severe fatigue. The more symptoms someone had, the worse their fatigue tended to be.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Poor health-related quality of life in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in comparison with a sex- and age-matched normative population.

Seeley, Marie-Claire, Gallagher, Celine, Ong, Eric et al.·Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society·2023

This study compared quality of life in people with POTS (a condition causing rapid heartbeat when standing) to people without POTS. Researchers found that people with POTS reported significantly worse quality of life across all areas tested, including mobility, self-care, daily activities, pain, and mood. The impact was consistent across all age groups, and was worse in people with severe symptoms, women, those with fatigue, and those who also had ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

[Implications of the quality of the doctor-patient relationship on health in adult ME/CFS patients. A qualitative public health study from a patien perspective].

Habermann-Horstmeier, Lotte, Horstmeier, Lukas M·MMW Fortschritte der Medizin·2023

This study surveyed 544 ME/CFS patients about their experiences with doctors. Most patients reported feeling unsupported, misunderstood, and dismissed—with doctors not recognizing ME/CFS as a real biological disease. These poor relationships with healthcare providers led to serious consequences: patients avoided doctors, lost trust in medicine, and some even experienced thoughts of suicide. The researchers conclude that doctors need to treat ME/CFS patients as experts in their own illness and develop better, patient-centered care approaches.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

What lies beneath: White matter microstructure in pediatric myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome using diffusion MRI.

Josev, Elisha K, Chen, Jian, Seal, Marc et al.·Journal of neuroscience research·2023

Researchers used advanced brain imaging to look for structural changes in the brains of teenagers recently diagnosed with ME/CFS compared to healthy peers. While teens with ME/CFS showed worse fatigue, pain, sleep quality, and cognitive problems like slower thinking speed, the brain scans did not reveal significant differences in white matter (the brain tissue that carries signals between brain regions). This suggests that early-stage ME/CFS in teenagers may not involve obvious structural brain changes, unlike what has been found in adult ME/CFS patients.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Evidence of a Novel Mitochondrial Signature in Systemic Sclerosis Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

van Eeden, Charmaine, Redmond, Desiree, Mohazab, Naima et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2023

This study looked at people with a connective tissue disease called systemic sclerosis who also experience severe fatigue (ME/CFS symptoms). Researchers found that fatigued patients had different patterns in how their cells' energy-producing structures (mitochondria) work compared to non-fatigued patients. These differences involved specific genes related to energy production, suggesting that measuring these genes might help doctors identify which systemic sclerosis patients have ME/CFS.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Serum GDF-15 Levels Accurately Differentiate Patients with Primary Mitochondrial Myopathy, Manifesting with Exercise Intolerance and Fatigue, from Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Bermejo-Guerrero, Laura, de Fuenmayor-Fernández de la Hoz, Carlos Pablo, Guerrero-Molina, María Paz et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2023

This study tested whether a blood marker called GDF-15 could help doctors tell the difference between ME/CFS and a rare condition called primary mitochondrial myopathy (PMM), which affects how cells produce energy. Both conditions cause fatigue and exercise intolerance that can look very similar, but PMM requires different treatment. The researchers found that GDF-15 levels were very good at distinguishing between these two conditions, which could help patients get the right diagnosis faster without needing extensive genetic testing or muscle biopsies.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Typing myalgic encephalomyelitis by infection at onset: A DecodeME study.

Bretherick, Andrew D, McGrath, Simon J, Devereux-Cooke, Andy et al.·NIHR open research·2023

This large study asked over 17,000 people with ME/CFS about their symptoms, when their illness started, and what health conditions they experience. The researchers found that ME/CFS is not one-size-fits-all: people whose ME/CFS began after an infection (like COVID-19 or glandular fever) reported different patterns of symptoms and other health problems compared to those whose illness started without a clear infection. The study also confirmed that women are more affected by ME/CFS than men, and discovered that women tend to have more additional health conditions alongside ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Developing a Blood Cell-Based Diagnostic Test for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

Xu, Jiabao, Lodge, Tiffany, Kingdon, Caroline et al.·Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2023

Researchers used a new technology called Raman spectroscopy combined with artificial intelligence to analyze blood cells from ME/CFS patients and healthy people. The test was able to correctly identify ME/CFS patients about 91% of the time and could even distinguish between mild, moderate, and severe cases with 84% accuracy. This could eventually help doctors diagnose ME/CFS with a simple blood test instead of relying only on patient symptoms.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Orthostatic chronotropic incompetence in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

van Campen, C Linda M C, Verheugt, Freek W A, Rowe, Peter C et al.·IBRO neuroscience reports·2023

This study looked at how ME/CFS patients' hearts respond when they stand up or tilt upright during a medical test. Normally, when you stand, your heart rate increases to maintain blood flow to your brain. Researchers found that many ME/CFS patients had an incomplete heart rate increase despite their blood flow dropping significantly—a condition called chronotropic incompetence. This problem was more common in patients with more severe ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Tryptophan catabolites, inflammation, and insulin resistance as determinants of chronic fatigue syndrome and affective symptoms in long COVID.

Al-Hakeim, Hussein Kadhem, Khairi Abed, Anwar, Rouf Moustafa, Shatha et al.·Frontiers in molecular neuroscience·2023

This study looked at 90 Long COVID patients and measured specific molecules in their blood related to how their body processes an amino acid called tryptophan. The researchers found that patients with the most severe Long COVID symptoms had low tryptophan levels and high levels of a related compound called kynurenine, along with markers of inflammation. These three measurements together explained about 40% of why patients had fatigue, pain, depression, and anxiety symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Symptom-based clusters in people with ME/CFS: an illustration of clinical variety in a cross-sectional cohort.

Vaes, Anouk W, Van Herck, Maarten, Deng, Qichen et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS can be grouped into different subtypes based on their specific combination of symptoms. Researchers asked 337 people with ME/CFS to report their symptoms and found 13 major groups, where people in each group shared similar patterns of symptom severity and frequency. While fatigue and post-exertional malaise (PEM) appeared in all groups, other symptoms varied—meaning people with ME/CFS experience the illness quite differently from one another.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Experiences of carers of youth, adult children and spouses with ME/CFS.

Baken, Don M, Ross, Kirsty J, Hodges, Lynette D et al.·Chronic illness·2023

This study looked at how caring for someone with ME/CFS affects family members and close caregivers across different life stages—parents of young people with ME/CFS, adult children caring for parents, and spouses. Researchers surveyed 36 carers about their experiences and found two major challenges: lack of knowledge about the condition and its wide-ranging impact on their lives. While many experiences were shared across all groups, carers of young people faced particular struggles with providing care without clear guidance, while carers of adults and spouses worried most about what the future would hold.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome in caregivers of children with cerebral palsy and affecting factors.

Pasin, Tugce, Karatekin, Bilinc Dogruoz, Pasin, Ozge·Northern clinics of Istanbul·2023

This study looked at mothers caring for children with cerebral palsy to see how many developed ME/CFS and what factors affected them. The researchers found that about 80% of the mothers met the clinical criteria for ME/CFS, with mothers who stayed home having more severe fatigue than those who worked full-time. The child's hand and arm function appeared to be an important factor in how severe the mother's fatigue became.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Physical health of Post-9/11 U.S. Military veterans in the context of Healthy People 2020 targeted topic areas: Results from the Comparative Health Assessment Interview Research Study.

Cypel, Yasmin S, Vogt, Dawne, Maguen, Shira et al.·Preventive medicine reports·2023

This study compared the health of post-9/11 military veterans to non-veterans in the United States and found that veterans experience significantly higher rates of several health conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), back and neck pain, hearing loss, and traumatic brain injury. Women and men veterans had different patterns of illness—for example, female veterans reported more cases of CFS and other conditions, while male veterans had more heart-related problems. The researchers suggest that national health guidelines should better account for veterans' specific health needs.

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

Robuvit® reduces fatigue after chemotherapy for colon cancer. A pilot registry study.

Belcaro, Gianni, Cox, David, Cesarone, Maria R et al.·Minerva surgery·2023

This study tested whether Robuvit®, an oak wood extract supplement, could help reduce fatigue in people recovering from chemotherapy for colon cancer. Over six weeks, patients taking Robuvit® showed greater improvements in tiredness, strength, fitness, and mood compared to those receiving standard care alone, with no reported side effects.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Risk factors for suicidal ideation in a chronic illness.

Elliott, Meghan K, Jason, Leonard A·Death studies·2023

This study looked at why some people with ME/CFS experience suicidal thoughts. Researchers surveyed 559 people with ME/CFS and found that certain factors—including sleep problems, feeling stigmatized by others, loss of physical abilities, severe disability, and being unmarried—were associated with increased suicide risk. The findings suggest that better education about ME/CFS, reducing stigma, and developing effective treatments could help protect people with this illness.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between symptoms of anxiety/depression and P50 sensory gating in adult patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Liu, Xinyi, Liu, Sitong, Ren, Runtao et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2023

This study looked at 249 people with ME/CFS to understand how anxiety and depression relate to a specific brain activity pattern called P50 sensory gating. Researchers used questionnaires to measure anxiety and depression, and brain scans (EEG) to measure how well the brain filters out repetitive sounds. They found that abnormal filtering of sounds was linked to anxiety, depression, and fatigue severity.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in children and young people: a British Paediatric Surveillance Unit study.

Royston, Alexander Peter, Rai, Manmita, Brigden, Amberly et al.·Archives of disease in childhood·2023

This British study looked at how many children and young people aged 5-16 have severe ME/CFS, a condition that causes extreme tiredness and makes it very difficult to do everyday activities. Researchers found that severe ME/CFS is uncommon in children, but when it does occur, it causes major disability—most affected young people missed almost all their schooling. The study also found that children got diagnosed relatively quickly, within about 5-6 months of when their symptoms started.

Diagnostics

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Adults: United States, 2021-2022.

Recovery and symptom trajectories up to two years after SARS-CoV-2 infection: population based, longitudinal cohort study.

The association between the number of symptoms and the severity of Post-COVID-Fatigue after SARS-CoV-2 infection treated in an outpatient setting.

Poor health-related quality of life in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in comparison with a sex- and age-matched normative population.

[Implications of the quality of the doctor-patient relationship on health in adult ME/CFS patients. A qualitative public health study from a patien perspective].

What lies beneath: White matter microstructure in pediatric myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome using diffusion MRI.

Evidence of a Novel Mitochondrial Signature in Systemic Sclerosis Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Serum GDF-15 Levels Accurately Differentiate Patients with Primary Mitochondrial Myopathy, Manifesting with Exercise Intolerance and Fatigue, from Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Typing myalgic encephalomyelitis by infection at onset: A DecodeME study.

Developing a Blood Cell-Based Diagnostic Test for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

Orthostatic chronotropic incompetence in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Tryptophan catabolites, inflammation, and insulin resistance as determinants of chronic fatigue syndrome and affective symptoms in long COVID.

Symptom-based clusters in people with ME/CFS: an illustration of clinical variety in a cross-sectional cohort.

Experiences of carers of youth, adult children and spouses with ME/CFS.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in caregivers of children with cerebral palsy and affecting factors.

Physical health of Post-9/11 U.S. Military veterans in the context of Healthy People 2020 targeted topic areas: Results from the Comparative Health Assessment Interview Research Study.

Robuvit® reduces fatigue after chemotherapy for colon cancer. A pilot registry study.

Risk factors for suicidal ideation in a chronic illness.

A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between symptoms of anxiety/depression and P50 sensory gating in adult patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in children and young people: a British Paediatric Surveillance Unit study.

Curated Collections

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