ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2795 studies

821–840 of 2,795 studies

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Patterns of daytime physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

King, E, Beynon, M, Chalder, T et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2020

Researchers studied how 579 ME/CFS patients moved and exercised during their daily lives using activity monitors. They found that patients fell into four different activity patterns: some stayed quite inactive, some stayed fairly active, some had a 'boom and bust' pattern (very active then very inactive), and some had mixed patterns. Each group showed different health characteristics—inactive patients had more physical disability, active patients had more anxiety, and boom-and-bust patients had more sleep problems.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Prevalence of functional somatic syndromes and bodily distress syndrome in the Danish population: the DanFunD study.

Petersen, Marie Weinreich, Schröder, Andreas, Jørgensen, Torben et al.·Scandinavian journal of public health·2020

This study looked at how common six functional somatic syndromes—including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and IBS—are in the general Danish population. Researchers surveyed nearly 10,000 adults and found that about 16% had at least one of these conditions, with ME/CFS being the most common at 8.6%. People with these syndromes reported poor health, difficulty with daily activities, and higher rates of depression and anxiety, especially when they had multiple conditions.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Post-exertional malaise in veterans with gulf war illness.

Lindheimer, Jacob B, Stegner, Aaron J, Wylie, Glenn R et al.·International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology·2020

This study looked at whether veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI) experience post-exertional malaise (PEM)—a worsening of symptoms after physical activity. Sixty-seven veterans completed a 30-minute exercise session, and researchers measured their fatigue, pain, and other symptoms before, immediately after, and 24 hours later. Veterans with GWI reported worse overall health and found the exercise more painful and tiring than healthy veterans, but only those who had specifically reported feeling unwell after exertion showed significant symptom worsening 24 hours later.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Patients with ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and chronic pain report similar level of sickness behavior as individuals injected with bacterial endotoxin at peak inflammation.

Jonsjö, Martin A, Åström, Jenny, Jones, Michael P et al.·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2020

This study compared how 'sick' people with ME/CFS and chronic pain feel compared to other groups. Researchers found that ME/CFS and chronic pain patients reported feeling as sick as healthy people who were given a bacterial toxin to trigger temporary inflammation. These high levels of sickness feelings were similar across both conditions and higher than what primary care patients reported, suggesting that the persistent sickness sensation in ME/CFS and chronic pain may involve similar biological mechanisms related to inflammation and how the brain processes illness signals.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cognitive factors are associated with disability and pain, but not fatigue among physiotherapy attendees with persistent pain and fatigue.

Thompson, Dave P, Antcliff, Deborah, Woby, Steve R·Physiotherapy·2020

This study looked at how thoughts and beliefs affect pain, disability, and fatigue in people with long-term pain and exhaustion who were receiving physiotherapy. Researchers found that how confident people felt about managing their condition (self-efficacy) and how much they catastrophized (worried excessively) about their symptoms were linked to pain levels and disability, but surprisingly were not linked to fatigue levels.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Assessing diagnostic value of microRNAs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and extracellular vesicles in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Almenar-Pérez, Eloy, Sarría, Leonor, Nathanson, Lubov et al.·Scientific reports·2020

This study looked for biological markers (tiny genetic molecules called microRNAs) in blood samples from severely ill ME/CFS patients that could help doctors diagnose the disease. Researchers found that certain microRNAs and physical characteristics of particles in the blood appeared different in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy controls. If validated in larger studies, these findings could eventually lead to a simple blood test for diagnosis.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The Prevalence of Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a Community‑Based Sample.

Jason, Leonard A, Katz, Ben Z, Sunnquist, Madison et al.·Child & youth care forum·2020

Researchers studied over 10,000 children and teenagers in the Chicago area to find out how many have ME/CFS. They found that about 0.75% (roughly 1 in 133) young people have the condition, with higher rates among African American and Latino youth. Importantly, less than 5% of these children had been diagnosed before the study, meaning many young people with ME/CFS are going unrecognized by doctors.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Multi-omics examination of Q fever fatigue syndrome identifies similarities with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Raijmakers, Ruud P H, Roerink, Megan E, Jansen, Anne F M et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

This study compared people with Q fever fatigue syndrome (a prolonged tiredness that develops after a Q fever infection) to people with ME/CFS and healthy controls. Researchers examined three types of biological markers: gut bacteria, blood chemicals, and inflammatory proteins. They found that people with Q fever fatigue syndrome have very similar patterns to ME/CFS patients, suggesting these two conditions may share similar underlying biological mechanisms.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Evaluation of Fatigue in Cancer Patients in An Area Affected by The Great East Japan Earthquake.

Sato, Daisuke·Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing·2020

This study looked at fatigue in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy who lived in an area affected by a major earthquake in Japan. Researchers measured both what patients reported about their tiredness and objective measurements of nervous system function and activity levels. The main finding was that patients showed changes in how their nervous system was functioning, with their stress-response system becoming more dominant over time.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Predicting GP visits: A multinomial logistic regression investigating GP visits amongst a cohort of UK patients living with Myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Walsh, R Stephen, Denovan, Andrew, Drinkwater, Kenneth et al.·BMC family practice·2020

This study looked at how often people with ME visit their GP and what factors affect these visits. Researchers surveyed 476 ME patients across the UK and found that several things—including how long someone has had ME, where they live, whether they trust their GP, how quickly they got diagnosed, and their gender—all predict how many GP visits they make each year. The study highlights that the relationship between ME patients and their doctors is really important for getting good care.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Cortisol levels in chronic fatigue syndrome and atypical depression measured using hair and saliva specimens.

Herane-Vives, Andres, Papadopoulos, Andrew, de Angel, Valeria et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2020

This study compared stress hormone (cortisol) levels in people with ME/CFS and people with a specific type of depression called atypical depression, both with and without fatigue. Researchers measured cortisol in two ways: through hair samples (showing levels over 3 months) and saliva samples (showing daily patterns). Both ME/CFS and atypical depression groups had lower daily cortisol output than healthy people, but normal cortisol levels when measured over longer periods, suggesting the low levels might be temporary or related to how the body's rhythm changes.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Cerebral blood flow is reduced in ME/CFS during head-up tilt testing even in the absence of hypotension or tachycardia: A quantitative, controlled study using Doppler echography.

van Campen, C Linda M C, Verheugt, Freek W A, Rowe, Peter C et al.·Clinical neurophysiology practice·2020

This study measured blood flow to the brain in ME/CFS patients while they were tilted upright for 30 minutes. Researchers found that blood flow to the brain dropped significantly more in ME/CFS patients (24-29%) compared to healthy people (7%), even in patients whose heart rate and blood pressure stayed normal. The more symptoms patients experienced from standing, the greater their blood flow reduction.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Feedback on underperformance in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The impact on subsequent neuropsychological test performance.

Roor, Jeroen J, Knoop, Hans, Dandachi-FitzGerald, Brechje et al.·Applied neuropsychology. Adult·2020

This study looked at whether telling ME/CFS patients about their poor performance on memory tests could help them do better on brain function tests afterward. Researchers gave one group of patients feedback about underperformance while another group got no feedback. The group that received feedback showed meaningful improvement in processing speed (how quickly the brain handles information), suggesting that simple feedback might help doctors get a more accurate picture of a patient's actual cognitive abilities.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Cardiac Dimensions and Function Are Not Altered among Females with the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Iversen, Per Ole, von Lueder, Thomas Gero, Kardel, Kristin Reimers et al.·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

Researchers used heart ultrasounds to check if the hearts of people with ME/CFS were structurally different or working differently than healthy people's hearts. They found no significant differences in heart size or function between the 16 women with ME/CFS and 10 healthy women they studied. This suggests that ME/CFS exercise intolerance and lactate buildup may not be caused by problems with how the heart itself is structured or functioning.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic Pain Syndromes and Their Laryngeal Manifestations.

Piersiala, Krzysztof, Akst, Lee M, Hillel, Alexander T et al.·JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery·2020

This study looked at whether fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and ME/CFS patients have similar voice and throat problems. Researchers reviewed medical records of over 4,000 patients at a voice center and found that patients with these three conditions were more likely to have functional voice disorders (problems with how the voice works rather than visible damage) compared to other patients.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Hospital Records of Pain, Fatigue, or Circulatory Symptoms in Girls Exposed to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: Cohort, Self-Controlled Case Series, and Population Time Trend Studies.

Thomsen, Reimar Wernich, Öztürk, Buket, Pedersen, Lars et al.·American journal of epidemiology·2020

This large Danish study looked at whether the HPV vaccine (which prevents cervical cancer) was linked to symptoms like pain, fatigue, or heart problems in girls. Researchers compared vaccinated and unvaccinated girls over 14 years and found no increase in hospital visits for these symptoms in vaccinated girls. The symptoms they tracked increased over time in both vaccinated and unvaccinated children, suggesting other factors were responsible.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Breathing pattern disorders (dysfunctional breathing) characteristics and outcomes of children and young people attending a secondary care respiratory clinic.

Newson, Timothy P, Elias, Annie·Pediatric pulmonology·2020

This study looked at 18 young people (ages 11-16) who had breathing pattern disorders—abnormal ways of breathing that caused problems like chest tightness, difficulty breathing during exercise, or feeling like their throat was closing. Most of these young people also had asthma, anxiety, or other conditions. When properly diagnosed and treated by a speech therapist, most improved significantly and felt more confident managing their symptoms, though it often took months to get the right diagnosis.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Rituximab Serum Concentrations and Anti-Rituximab Antibodies During B-Cell Depletion Therapy for Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Rekeland, Ingrid G, Fluge, Øystein, Alme, Kine et al.·Clinical therapeutics·2019

This study looked at whether the amount of a drug called rituximab in patients' blood predicted whether they would improve from ME/CFS symptoms. The researchers measured rituximab levels in 23 patients and found no clear connection between how much drug was in the blood and who felt better. Interestingly, none of the patients developed antibodies against the drug, which was a potential concern.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

EBV-requisitioning physicians' guess on fatigue state 6 months after acute EBV infection.

Asprusten, Tarjei Tørre, Pedersen, Maria, Skovlund, Eva et al.·BMJ paediatrics open·2019

This study looked at whether doctors could predict which teenagers with mono (infectious mononucleosis caused by EBV) would develop long-lasting fatigue 6 months later. The researchers found that when doctors initially thought a patient would be 'likely fatigued' or 'unsurely fatigued,' those patients were more likely to actually develop fatigue compared to those predicted as 'not fatigued.' However, the doctors' predictions were only correct about two-thirds of the time.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Assessing chronic fatigue syndrome: Self-reported physical functioning and correlations with physical testing.

Eyskens, Jan B, Illegems, Jela, De Nil, Luc et al.·Journal of bodywork and movement therapies·2019

This study tested whether two simple physical tests could help diagnose ME/CFS and match how tired patients feel. Researchers had 27 women with ME/CFS do a standing endurance test and a balance-while-thinking test, then compared the results to questionnaires about fatigue and daily functioning. Only the standing test correlated with how patients rated their physical abilities.

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Patterns of daytime physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Prevalence of functional somatic syndromes and bodily distress syndrome in the Danish population: the DanFunD study.

Post-exertional malaise in veterans with gulf war illness.

Patients with ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and chronic pain report similar level of sickness behavior as individuals injected with bacterial endotoxin at peak inflammation.

Cognitive factors are associated with disability and pain, but not fatigue among physiotherapy attendees with persistent pain and fatigue.

Assessing diagnostic value of microRNAs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and extracellular vesicles in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

The Prevalence of Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a Community‑Based Sample.

Multi-omics examination of Q fever fatigue syndrome identifies similarities with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Evaluation of Fatigue in Cancer Patients in An Area Affected by The Great East Japan Earthquake.

Predicting GP visits: A multinomial logistic regression investigating GP visits amongst a cohort of UK patients living with Myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Cortisol levels in chronic fatigue syndrome and atypical depression measured using hair and saliva specimens.

Cerebral blood flow is reduced in ME/CFS during head-up tilt testing even in the absence of hypotension or tachycardia: A quantitative, controlled study using Doppler echography.

Feedback on underperformance in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The impact on subsequent neuropsychological test performance.

Cardiac Dimensions and Function Are Not Altered among Females with the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Chronic Pain Syndromes and Their Laryngeal Manifestations.

Hospital Records of Pain, Fatigue, or Circulatory Symptoms in Girls Exposed to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: Cohort, Self-Controlled Case Series, and Population Time Trend Studies.

Breathing pattern disorders (dysfunctional breathing) characteristics and outcomes of children and young people attending a secondary care respiratory clinic.

Rituximab Serum Concentrations and Anti-Rituximab Antibodies During B-Cell Depletion Therapy for Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

EBV-requisitioning physicians' guess on fatigue state 6 months after acute EBV infection.

Assessing chronic fatigue syndrome: Self-reported physical functioning and correlations with physical testing.

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