ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

1301–1320 of 6,209 studies

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Psychological flexibility in somatic symptom and related disorders: A case control study.

Selker, René J D M, Koppert, Tim Y, Houtveen, Jan H et al.·Journal of psychiatric research·2024

This study looked at how well people can handle difficult thoughts and feelings without being overwhelmed by them—a skill called psychological flexibility. Researchers compared 154 people with somatic symptom disorder (SSD, where people are very distressed by physical symptoms) to nearly 2,000 people with other conditions like ME/CFS or no illness. People with SSD had much lower psychological flexibility than both other groups, and this lower flexibility was linked to worse mental health.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Exploring the role of galectin-9 and artemin as biomarkers in long COVID with chronic fatigue syndrome: links to inflammation and cognitive function.

Elahi, Shokrollah, Rezaeifar, Maryam, Osman, Mohammed et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2024

Researchers studied two proteins in the blood—galectin-9 and artemin—to see if they could help identify people with Long COVID who also have ME/CFS. They found that galectin-9 levels were higher in Long COVID patients and were linked to inflammation and thinking problems. These proteins may help doctors distinguish Long COVID with ME/CFS from people who recovered normally from COVID-19.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Stroop task and practice effects demonstrate cognitive dysfunction in long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome.

Baraniuk, James N, Thapaliya, Kiran, Inderyas, Maira et al.·Scientific reports·2024

This study tested how quickly people with Long COVID and ME/CFS could complete a simple task involving reading color words displayed in different colored inks. Both patient groups were noticeably slower at this task than healthy people, and unlike healthy people, they didn't get faster with practice. This suggests that ME/CFS and Long COVID may involve a problem with how different parts of the brain communicate during problem-solving.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateGuidelinePEM unclearGuideline

Practical Recommendations for Exercise Training in Patients with Long COVID with or without Post-exertional Malaise: A Best Practice Proposal.

Gloeckl, Rainer, Zwick, Ralf H, Fürlinger, Ulrich et al.·Sports medicine - open·2024

This study created practical guidelines for exercise training in people with long COVID, especially those who experience post-exertional malaise (PEM)—when symptoms get worse after physical activity. The researchers reviewed 46 previous studies and surveyed 14 international experts to develop three different exercise approaches depending on whether someone has no PEM, mild/moderate PEM, or severe PEM. These guidelines aim to help healthcare professionals safely design exercise programs tailored to each person's specific situation.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Longitudinal Course of Physical and Psychosocial Impairment in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder and Personality-Disordered Comparison Subjects: Description and Prediction.

Glass, Isabel V, Frankenburg, Frances R, Fitzmaurice, Garrett M et al.·Journal of personality disorders·2024

This study followed 282 people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and other personality disorders for 8 years to see how their physical and mental health changed over time. People with BPD reported significantly more physical and emotional difficulties than the comparison group, and those who didn't recover had worse outcomes. The study found that certain conditions—like chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoarthritis, obesity, depression, and PTSD—were strongly linked to physical health problems in BPD patients.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Comparison of T-cell receptor diversity of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis versus controls.

Dibble, Joshua J, Ferneyhough, Ben, Roddis, Matthew et al.·BMC research notes·2024

Researchers studied immune cells called T-cells in people with ME/CFS to see if they were different from those in healthy people. They looked at genetic patterns in blood samples from 40 people in each group: those severely affected by ME/CFS, those mildly or moderately affected, people with multiple sclerosis, and healthy controls. Although they used advanced technology and computer programs to analyze the data, they found that the T-cell patterns were not notably different between the groups.

Immune System

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 unclearLongitudinal

Association Between Chronic Pain and Fatigue Severity with Weather and Air Pollution Among Females with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Jones, Chloe Lisette, Haskin, Olivia, Younger, Jarred Wayne·International journal of environmental research and public health·2024

This study looked at whether weather and air quality affect pain and fatigue in women with ME/CFS. Fifty-eight women tracked their daily pain and fatigue levels for about 2 months while researchers compared their symptoms to local weather and air pollution data. The results showed that worse air quality, lower wind speeds, and higher levels of certain pollutants were linked to days when patients experienced more pain and fatigue.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

["The idea of rehabilitation will have to be completely rethought for this illness" - Qualitative results of an online survey on patients' experiences with inpatient rehabilitation for post COVID-19 condition (long COVID)].

Hammer, Sabine, Schmidt, Julia, Conrad, Annett et al.·Zeitschrift fur Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualitat im Gesundheitswesen·2024

German researchers asked 1,191 long COVID patients about their experiences with inpatient rehabilitation programs. About half reported their health got worse during rehabilitation, mainly from exercise programs that were too intense. The study found that standard rehabilitation designed for other illnesses often doesn't work for long COVID patients with post-exertional malaise, and programs should instead focus on teaching patients how to pace their activities safely.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Functional and Morphological Differences of Muscle Mitochondria in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-COVID Syndrome.

Bizjak, Daniel Alexander, Ohmayer, Birgit, Buhl, Jasmine Leonike et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2024

This study examined the energy-producing structures (mitochondria) inside muscle cells of people with ME/CFS and long COVID, comparing them to healthy people. Researchers found that mitochondria in both conditions work less efficiently and have structural damage, but the patterns differ: long COVID shows more damage to a specific energy-producing pathway, while ME/CFS shows more overall structural wear and tear in the mitochondria themselves.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM required

Identifying the mental health burden in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients in Switzerland: A pilot study.

König, Rahel Susanne, Paris, Daniel Henry, Sollberger, Marc et al.·Heliyon·2024

This Swiss study surveyed 169 ME/CFS patients to understand how the disease affects their mental health and well-being. The researchers found that most patients experience significant emotional challenges, including sadness, hopelessness, and concerning rates of suicidal thoughts, often because others don't believe or understand their illness. The study shows that ME/CFS creates serious mental health burdens beyond just physical symptoms, and patients urgently need better medical, psychological, and social support.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Evidence of aberrant anti-epstein-barr virus antibody response, though no viral reactivation, in people with post-stroke fatigue.

Mouat, Isobel C, Zhu, Li, Aslan, Alperen et al.·Journal of inflammation (London, England)·2024

This study looked at whether Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common virus that stays dormant in most people's bodies, reactivates in stroke patients who experience severe fatigue. Researchers compared 44 stroke survivors—22 with high fatigue and 22 with low fatigue—and measured both the amount of active virus and antibodies against it in their blood. While they found that EBV reactivation happened equally in both groups, people with high fatigue showed unusual patterns in their immune response to the virus, suggesting their bodies may not be fighting EBV normally.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Frequency and characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome in multiple sclerosis patients at a university hospital in Eastern Saudi Arabia.

AlAmri, Abdullah S, AlShamrani, Foziah J, AlMohish, Noor M et al.·Journal of family & community medicine·2024

This study looked at fatigue in 225 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to see how many also had chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). About half of the MS patients experienced long-lasting fatigue lasting over 6 months. Researchers found that 7% of patients truly met the medical criteria for CFS, while 17% believed they had CFS but didn't meet the official diagnostic standards, suggesting confusion about what CFS actually is.

Diagnostics

E2 ModeratePEM unclearRegistry-Resource

Clinical and Diagnostic Features of Post-Acute COVID-19 Vaccination Syndrome (PACVS).

Mundorf, Anna Katharina, Semmler, Amelie, Heidecke, Harald et al.·Vaccines·2024

This study looked at 191 people who developed long-term illness after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, a rare condition affecting about 2 in 10,000 vaccinated people. The most common symptoms were extreme tiredness and overall malaise (affecting over 80%), along with problems like nerve pain, heart issues, and cognitive difficulties. The researchers found that many of these patients meet the criteria for ME/CFS, though some appear to have a different condition entirely.

Immune System

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 unclearCross-Sectional

[Systems thinking, subjective findings and diagnostic "pigeonholing" in ME/CFS: A mainly qualitative public health study from a patient perspective].

Habermann-Horstmeier, Lotte, Horstmeier, Lukas Maximilian·Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)·2024

This German study asked 544 ME/CFS patients about their experiences getting diagnosed and working with doctors. Patients reported that many doctors don't recognize ME/CFS as a real disease, instead dismissing it as purely psychological. The study found that poor diagnosis experiences and lack of doctor recognition of ME/CFS as a biological multisystem illness significantly damage the relationship between patients and their healthcare providers.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Association of circulating biomarkers with illness severity measures differentiates myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and post-COVID-19 condition: a prospective pilot cohort study.

Domingo, Joan Carles, Battistini, Federica, Cordobilla, Begoña et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2024

This study compared blood markers and body responses between people with ME/CFS, people with long COVID, and healthy controls. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had distinct patterns of inflammation and blood vessel dysfunction compared to long COVID patients, suggesting these are different conditions with different underlying problems. By measuring specific proteins in the blood and testing how the body responds to positional changes, researchers could tell the two patient groups apart.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

[What Medical Specialties do ME/CFS Sufferers Consult? A Public Health Study on the need for Better Medical Education and Training].

Habermann-Horstmeier, Lotte, Horstmeier, Lukas Maximilian·Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband der Arzte des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany))·2024

This German study surveyed 674 ME/CFS patients to understand how they navigate the healthcare system and how long diagnosis takes. Patients saw an average of 6-15 different doctors from various specialties before getting diagnosed, with the diagnostic journey taking up to 10 years for most people. The study found that doctors often refer patients around based on individual symptoms rather than recognizing ME/CFS as a whole condition, highlighting the urgent need for better training about ME/CFS across all medical fields.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

A pilot cross-sectional investigation of symptom clusters and associations with patient-reported outcomes in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post COVID-19 Condition.

Weigel, Breanna, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Thapaliya, Kiran et al.·Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation·2024

This study compared people with ME/CFS and people with Long COVID to understand how their symptoms affect quality of life and daily functioning. Researchers found that both groups experience similar symptom patterns, particularly autonomic symptoms like breathing problems, which have the biggest impact on wellbeing. The findings suggest that Long COVID and ME/CFS may be closely related conditions, and that some people recovering from COVID-19 may develop ME/CFS-like illness over time.

Post-Exertional Malaise

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

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Psychological flexibility in somatic symptom and related disorders: A case control study.

Exploring the role of galectin-9 and artemin as biomarkers in long COVID with chronic fatigue syndrome: links to inflammation and cognitive function.

Stroop task and practice effects demonstrate cognitive dysfunction in long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome.

Practical Recommendations for Exercise Training in Patients with Long COVID with or without Post-exertional Malaise: A Best Practice Proposal.

Longitudinal Course of Physical and Psychosocial Impairment in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder and Personality-Disordered Comparison Subjects: Description and Prediction.

Comparison of T-cell receptor diversity of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis versus controls.

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.

Association Between Chronic Pain and Fatigue Severity with Weather and Air Pollution Among Females with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

["The idea of rehabilitation will have to be completely rethought for this illness" - Qualitative results of an online survey on patients' experiences with inpatient rehabilitation for post COVID-19 condition (long COVID)].

Functional and Morphological Differences of Muscle Mitochondria in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-COVID Syndrome.

Identifying the mental health burden in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients in Switzerland: A pilot study.

Evidence of aberrant anti-epstein-barr virus antibody response, though no viral reactivation, in people with post-stroke fatigue.

Frequency and characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome in multiple sclerosis patients at a university hospital in Eastern Saudi Arabia.

Clinical and Diagnostic Features of Post-Acute COVID-19 Vaccination Syndrome (PACVS).

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

[Systems thinking, subjective findings and diagnostic "pigeonholing" in ME/CFS: A mainly qualitative public health study from a patient perspective].

Association of circulating biomarkers with illness severity measures differentiates myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and post-COVID-19 condition: a prospective pilot cohort study.

[What Medical Specialties do ME/CFS Sufferers Consult? A Public Health Study on the need for Better Medical Education and Training].

A pilot cross-sectional investigation of symptom clusters and associations with patient-reported outcomes in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post COVID-19 Condition.

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

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

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