ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

1521–1540 of 6,209 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Exposure-response relationship between K. brevis blooms and reporting of upper respiratory and neurotoxin-associated symptoms.

Abdullah, L, Ferguson, S, Niedospial, D et al.·Harmful algae·2022

Researchers studied whether harmful algal blooms caused by Karenia brevis (a type of seaweed) in Florida's Gulf waters trigger respiratory symptoms, headaches, and nerve-related illness symptoms in people living nearby. They surveyed 258 residents in five coastal counties and found a clear link: when blooms were stronger, more people reported these symptoms. People with previous diagnoses of migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, or memory problems were more likely to report these symptoms during blooms.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Key Features of a Multi-Disciplinary Hospital-Based Rehabilitation Program for Children and Adolescents with Moderate to Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ME/CFS.

Hiremath, Sonya, Doukrou, Montserrat, Flannery, Halina et al.·International journal of environmental research and public health·2022

This study looked at 27 children and teenagers with moderate to severe ME/CFS who stayed in a hospital and received coordinated care from multiple medical professionals. Most patients (85%) showed improvement in at least one important area of their lives, such as being able to move around better, return to school, sleep better, or enjoy social activities. These results suggest that hospital-based rehabilitation programs can help young people with severe ME/CFS improve their quality of life.

Sleep

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

A description of the current status of chronic fatigue syndrome and associated factors among university students in Wuhan, China.

Luo, Lunbing, Zhang, Yutong, Huang, Tao et al.·Frontiers in psychiatry·2022

This study surveyed over 1,800 university students in Wuhan, China to understand how common ME/CFS is and what factors might contribute to it. Researchers found that about 6 in 100 students had ME/CFS, and identified several factors linked to the condition: pulling all-nighters, overeating, anxiety, and poor sleep quality increased risk, while being actively engaged in learning appeared protective. The study highlights that lifestyle and mental health factors may play important roles in ME/CFS among young adults.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

The incidence and characteristics of chronic pain and fatigue after 12 months later admitting with COVID-19; The Post- COVID 19 syndrome.

Janbazi, Lobaneh, Kazemian, Alireza, Mansouri, Kourosh et al.·American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation·2022

Researchers followed 157 people who were hospitalized with COVID-19 and checked on them 12 months later. They found that about 27% still had chronic fatigue and muscle weakness, and about 15% experienced chronic pain, mostly in the lower back and legs. Women were more likely than men to report these symptoms, and many patients were only using pain medications rather than receiving rehabilitation or mental health support.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Orthostatic Challenge Causes Distinctive Symptomatic, Hemodynamic and Cognitive Responses in Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Vernon, Suzanne D, Funk, Sherlyn, Bateman, Lucinda et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2022

Researchers tested whether a simple 10-minute standing test (NASA Lean Test) could reveal problems in people with Long COVID and ME/CFS. The test made symptoms worse in both patient groups but not in healthy people, and caused measurable changes in blood pressure and thinking speed. This suggests the test could help doctors confirm what patients are experiencing and provide objective evidence of their condition.

Autonomic Nervous SystemDiagnosticsCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

A comparative study of valaciclovir, valganciclovir, and artesunate efficacy in reactivated HHV-6 and HHV-7 infections associated with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Maltsev, Dmitry·Microbiology and immunology·2022

This study tested three antiviral medications in ME/CFS patients who had reactivated herpesvirus infections (HHV-6 and HHV-7). Over three months, the drug artesunate was more effective at clearing the virus from the blood than two other antivirals (valaciclovir and valganciclovir). By the third month, artesunate cleared the virus in about 68% of HHV-6 cases and 63% of HHV-7 cases, compared to 37% and 34% with valaciclovir.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredProtocol

Multimodal MRI of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A cross-sectional neuroimaging study toward its neuropathophysiology and diagnosis.

Shan, Zack Y, Mohamed, Abdalla Z, Andersen, Thu et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2022

This study used advanced brain imaging to investigate whether ME/CFS is caused by a problem with how the brain's blood vessels respond to neural activity. Researchers scanned the brains of 288 people—including those with ME/CFS, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and healthy controls—while they performed tasks and held their breath, measuring blood flow and brain chemicals. The goal was to find distinctive brain patterns that could objectively diagnose ME/CFS and understand what goes wrong in this disease.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateMechanismPEM requiredObservational

Plasma metabolomics reveals disrupted response and recovery following maximal exercise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Germain, Arnaud, Giloteaux, Ludovic, Moore, Geoffrey E et al.·JCI insight·2022

Researchers studied 60 ME/CFS patients and 45 healthy people by measuring thousands of chemical substances in their blood before and after intense exercise tests done 24 hours apart. They found that ME/CFS patients had very different chemical patterns in their blood, especially after exercise and during the 24-hour recovery period, suggesting their bodies struggle to respond to and recover from physical exertion in ways that may explain post-exertional malaise (the worsening of symptoms after activity).

Energy MetabolismPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearObservational

Graded exercise therapy for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in secondary care - a benchmarking study.

Smakowski, Abigail, Adamson, James, Turner, Tracey et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2022

This study looked at how graded exercise therapy (gradually increasing physical activity) helped ME/CFS patients who were treated at a specialist clinic in London. Researchers tracked patients' fatigue levels, physical ability, and ability to work and socialize over the course of treatment. The results showed that patients improved significantly, with fatigue decreasing and daily functioning improving by the end of treatment.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Generalized Worry in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Following Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Prospective Cohort Study in Secondary Care.

Kalfas, Michail, Smakowski, Abigail, Hirsch, Colette et al.·Behavior therapy·2022

This study looked at worry in nearly 500 people with ME/CFS who received a talking therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). About 7 in 10 patients had significant worry alongside their fatigue. After CBT, patients reported notably less worry, and this improvement stayed stable months later. People who worried severely at the start also experienced worse fatigue and had more difficulty with work and social activities.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Oxaloacetate Treatment For Mental And Physical Fatigue In Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long-COVID fatigue patients: a non-randomized controlled clinical trial.

Cash, Alan, Kaufman, David Lyons·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study tested whether a supplement called oxaloacetate could help reduce fatigue in ME/CFS and Long COVID patients. Over 6 weeks, patients taking oxaloacetate showed significant improvements in both mental and physical fatigue—with ME/CFS patients improving by 22–33% depending on dose, and Long COVID patients improving by up to 47%—compared to expected placebo improvements of about 6%.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The Presentation of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is Not Influenced by the Presence or Absence of Joint Hypermobility.

Vogel, Sarah K, Primavera, Isabelle R, Marden, Colleen L et al.·The Journal of pediatrics·2022

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS who have unusually flexible joints (joint hypermobility) experience the illness differently than those without this feature. Researchers compared 55 patients and found no meaningful differences between the two groups in terms of when symptoms started, how severe they were, or how much the condition affected their daily lives. Even though joint hypermobility may increase the risk of developing ME/CFS, having it does not appear to change how the illness presents or progresses.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

The Impact of COVID Vaccination on Symptoms of Long COVID: An International Survey of People with Lived Experience of Long COVID.

Strain, William David, Sherwood, Ondine, Banerjee, Amitava et al.·Vaccines·2022

This survey asked 812 people with long COVID about how COVID-19 vaccination affected their symptoms. Overall, 58% reported feeling better after vaccination, 18% felt worse, and the rest noticed no change. People who received mRNA vaccines (like Pfizer and Moderna) tended to see more improvement than those who received other types of vaccines. However, responses varied greatly from person to person.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Brain fog of post-COVID-19 condition and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, same medical disorder?

Azcue, N, Gómez-Esteban, J C, Acera, M et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study compared brain fog and fatigue symptoms in people with ME/CFS and those recovering from COVID-19 to see if they might be the same condition triggered by different causes. Both groups showed similar problems with fatigue, sleep, and muscle pain, but people with ME/CFS had more severe cognitive difficulties like trouble concentrating and processing information. Interestingly, loss of smell that lasted a long time in COVID-19 patients appeared connected to their cognitive problems.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Cardiopulmonary, metabolic, and perceptual responses during exercise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Multi-site Clinical Assessment of ME/CFS (MCAM) sub-study.

Cook, Dane B, VanRiper, Stephanie, Dougherty, Ryan J et al.·PloS one·2022

Researchers tested 214 people with ME/CFS and 189 healthy controls using exercise bikes to see how their bodies responded to physical activity. They found that people with ME/CFS had unusual patterns during exercise: they breathed inefficiently, their hearts didn't speed up as much as expected, but they felt the exercise was harder than controls thought it was. These differences remained even when comparing people with similar fitness levels.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Treatments of chronic fatigue syndrome and its debilitating comorbidities: a 12-year population-based study.

Leong, Kam-Hang, Yip, Hei-Tung, Kuo, Chien-Feng et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study looked at over 12,000 people in Taiwan with ME/CFS and compared them to an equal number of similar people without the condition. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS are much more likely to also have depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and certain other illnesses like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. The study also found that doctors commonly prescribed antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, pain relievers, and recommended exercise and therapy—treatments that earlier research suggested might help with ME/CFS symptoms.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The Fatigue-Related Symptoms Post-Acute SARS-CoV-2: A Preliminary Comparative Study.

Thomas, Marie·International journal of environmental research and public health·2022

This study compared fatigue and related symptoms in 26 people experiencing Long COVID with two groups: people without fatigue and people with ME/CFS. The Long COVID group reported severe fatigue, brain fog, sleep problems, and difficulty concentrating—similar to what people with ME/CFS experience. The findings suggest Long COVID and ME/CFS may share some common features.

SleepCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-COVID Syndrome: A Common Neuroimmune Ground?

Ryabkova, Varvara A, Gavrilova, Natalia Y, Fedotkina, Tamara V et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

This Russian study looked at 56 people with ME/CFS and 14 people with post-COVID syndrome to understand how their bodies function differently. The researchers found that both groups had similar patterns of immune system problems, heart rate changes when standing up, and reduced blood flow in small vessels. Importantly, fatigue severity was linked to many other ME/CFS symptoms but not to anxiety or depression.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Revisiting IgG Antibody Reactivity to Epstein-Barr Virus in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Its Potential Application to Disease Diagnosis.

Sepúlveda, Nuno, Malato, João, Sotzny, Franziska et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2022

This study looked at antibody responses to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common virus linked to ME/CFS onset in some patients. Researchers analyzed blood samples from 92 ME/CFS patients and 50 healthy people, testing reactions to over 3,000 EBV proteins. They found that in patients whose ME/CFS started after a suspected EBV infection, two specific viral proteins triggered stronger antibody responses than in healthy controls. These antibody patterns could correctly identify about 83% of infected patients and 72% of healthy people, suggesting they might become useful diagnostic markers.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM required

Causal attributions and perceived stigma for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Froehlich, Laura, Hattesohl, Daniel Br, Cotler, Joseph et al.·Journal of health psychology·2022

This study looked at how ME/CFS patients are affected by what others think about their illness. Researchers found that when people believe others think ME/CFS is something the patient can control (like a psychological problem rather than a real disease), it increases feelings of shame and stigma. These negative feelings then lead to worse health outcomes and less satisfaction with daily activities.

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Evidence browser

Exposure-response relationship between K. brevis blooms and reporting of upper respiratory and neurotoxin-associated symptoms.

Key Features of a Multi-Disciplinary Hospital-Based Rehabilitation Program for Children and Adolescents with Moderate to Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ME/CFS.

A description of the current status of chronic fatigue syndrome and associated factors among university students in Wuhan, China.

The incidence and characteristics of chronic pain and fatigue after 12 months later admitting with COVID-19; The Post- COVID 19 syndrome.

Orthostatic Challenge Causes Distinctive Symptomatic, Hemodynamic and Cognitive Responses in Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

A comparative study of valaciclovir, valganciclovir, and artesunate efficacy in reactivated HHV-6 and HHV-7 infections associated with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Multimodal MRI of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A cross-sectional neuroimaging study toward its neuropathophysiology and diagnosis.

Plasma metabolomics reveals disrupted response and recovery following maximal exercise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Graded exercise therapy for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in secondary care - a benchmarking study.

Generalized Worry in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Following Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Prospective Cohort Study in Secondary Care.

Oxaloacetate Treatment For Mental And Physical Fatigue In Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long-COVID fatigue patients: a non-randomized controlled clinical trial.

The Presentation of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is Not Influenced by the Presence or Absence of Joint Hypermobility.

The Impact of COVID Vaccination on Symptoms of Long COVID: An International Survey of People with Lived Experience of Long COVID.

Brain fog of post-COVID-19 condition and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, same medical disorder?

Cardiopulmonary, metabolic, and perceptual responses during exercise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Multi-site Clinical Assessment of ME/CFS (MCAM) sub-study.

Treatments of chronic fatigue syndrome and its debilitating comorbidities: a 12-year population-based study.

The Fatigue-Related Symptoms Post-Acute SARS-CoV-2: A Preliminary Comparative Study.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-COVID Syndrome: A Common Neuroimmune Ground?

Revisiting IgG Antibody Reactivity to Epstein-Barr Virus in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Its Potential Application to Disease Diagnosis.

Causal attributions and perceived stigma for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

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