ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

1581–1600 of 6,157 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Analysis of Gender Differences in HRV of Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using Mobile-Health Technology.

Capdevila, Lluis, Castro-Marrero, Jesús, Alegre, José et al.·Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

Researchers used a smartphone app connected to a heart monitor to measure heart rate variability (how much the time between heartbeats varies) in ME/CFS patients and healthy people. They found that women with ME/CFS showed different heart patterns than healthy women, but men with ME/CFS did not show the same clear difference. This suggests that ME/CFS may affect the heart's nervous system control differently in men versus women.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Parent-child discrepancies in health-related quality of life of children and adolescents with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ekberg, Krista M, Torres, Chelsea, Jason, Leonard A·Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation·2021

This study looked at whether parents and their children with ME/CFS report symptoms and quality of life differently. Researchers compared 75 families where children had ME/CFS and 72 families without the condition, asking both parents and children to describe the child's health and symptoms. They found that parents and children often gave different answers, suggesting that both perspectives are important for understanding how ME/CFS affects young people.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Evaluation of Immune Dysregulation in an Austrian Patient Cohort Suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Lutz, Lena, Rohrhofer, Johanna, Zehetmayer, Sonja et al.·Biomolecules·2021

This study looked at blood test results from 262 ME/CFS patients to understand problems with their immune systems. Researchers found that nearly two-thirds of patients had low levels of certain immune proteins or cells, while about one-quarter showed signs of inflammation. These findings suggest that immune system dysfunction is a common feature of ME/CFS and could potentially be used to help diagnose or treat the condition.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Monitoring treatment harm in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A freedom-of-information study of National Health Service specialist centres in England.

McPhee, Graham, Baldwin, Adrian, Kindlon, Tom et al.·Journal of health psychology·2021

This study looked at how 38 ME/CFS specialist clinics in England monitor and report harms from treatments like graded exercise therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. Researchers found that clinics were inconsistent in how they handle treatment-related harm, rarely warned patients about potential risks in their written materials, and reported zero cases of harm despite knowing many patients dropped out of treatment. The study suggests clinics need better systems to detect, record, and stop treatments when patients are being harmed.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

How common are depression and anxiety in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and how should we screen for these mental health co-morbidities? A clinical cohort study.

Loades, Maria E, Read, Rebecca, Smith, Lucie et al.·European child & adolescent psychiatry·2021

This study looked at how common depression and anxiety are in teenagers with ME/CFS. Researchers interviewed 164 young people with ME/CFS and their parents using detailed diagnostic interviews and questionnaires. They found that about 1 in 3 teenagers had depression or anxiety, which is higher than expected. However, the questionnaires commonly used to screen for these conditions were not always accurate at detecting problems in this group, so doctors need to be careful and do thorough assessments rather than relying on questionnaires alone.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Markers of Cardiac Autonomic Function During Consecutive Day Peak Exercise Tests in People With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Nelson, Maximillian J, Buckley, Jonathan D, Thomson, Rebecca L et al.·Frontiers in physiology·2021

This study looked at how the hearts of ME/CFS patients respond to exercise on two consecutive days, comparing them to healthy people. Researchers measured heart rate patterns and recovery after exercise, finding that ME/CFS patients had slower heart rate recovery after working out. However, these measurements alone were not reliable enough to diagnose ME/CFS, suggesting that a single heart rate test may not be a useful diagnostic tool on its own.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Comparison of the finger plethysmography derived stroke volumes by Nexfin CO Trek and suprasternal aortic Doppler derived stroke volume measurements in adults with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and in healthy controls.

van Campen, C Linda M C, Verheugt, Freek W A, Rowe, Peter C et al.·Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine·2021

This study compared two different ways of measuring how much blood the heart pumps with each beat during a tilt table test (where patients lie down then are tilted upright). Researchers tested 154 ME/CFS patients and 39 healthy people using finger cuff measurements and ultrasound of the heart. They found that the finger cuff method gave higher readings than ultrasound, but after adjusting the finger cuff numbers to match ultrasound values, the device became reliable enough to track changes during tilt testing.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Perceptions of European ME/CFS Experts Concerning Knowledge and Understanding of ME/CFS among Primary Care Physicians in Europe: A Report from the European ME/CFS Research Network (EUROMENE).

Cullinan, John, Pheby, Derek F H, Araja, Diana et al.·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2021

ME/CFS experts across Europe were asked what they think family doctors know about ME/CFS and how to help them understand it better. The experts reported serious concerns: about 60% of ME/CFS patients go undiagnosed because family doctors lack knowledge about the condition, don't believe it's real, or don't know how to manage it. Most experts agreed that better training for doctors at all levels would help.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Reduced Parasympathetic Reactivation during Recovery from Exercise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Van Oosterwijck, Jessica, Marusic, Uros, De Wandele, Inge et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

This study examined how the nervous system controls heart rate and other body functions in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people, both at rest and after exercise. Researchers found that while ME/CFS patients had normal nerve function at rest, their bodies had difficulty recovering after exercise—specifically, their parasympathetic nervous system (the 'rest and digest' system) didn't reactivate properly. This delayed recovery is concerning because similar patterns in other diseases are linked to worse health outcomes.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronotropic Incompetence in Non-Hospitalized Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome.

Jimeno-Almazán, Amaya, Pallarés, Jesús G, Buendía-Romero, Ángel et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

Some people who recover from COVID-19 experience persistent fatigue and difficulty exercising for months afterward. This study tested 32 people with long-lasting COVID symptoms and found that about 12% had a specific heart problem called chronotropic incompetence—their heart rate doesn't increase normally during exercise. This heart rhythm problem may explain why some patients struggle with exercise intolerance after COVID-19.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Post-Acute COVID-19 Symptoms, a Potential Link with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A 6-Month Survey in a Mexican Cohort.

González-Hermosillo, J Antonio, Martínez-López, Jhanea Patricia, Carrillo-Lampón, Sofía Antonieta et al.·Brain sciences·2021

This study followed 130 people recovering from COVID-19 for 6 months to see how many developed symptoms similar to ME/CFS. Nearly half the patients experienced ongoing fatigue, and those with fatigue tended to be older and had spent more time in the hospital. Only 13% of the patients met the strict diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS, suggesting that while some people have overlapping symptoms, post-COVID fatigue and ME/CFS may be distinct conditions.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Evolving phenotypes of non-hospitalized patients that indicate long COVID.

Estiri, Hossein, Strasser, Zachary H, Brat, Gabriel A et al.·BMC medicine·2021

This study looked at medical records from over 96,000 people to identify which health problems are more common in people who had COVID-19 compared to those who didn't. Researchers found that certain symptoms and conditions—including loss of taste and smell, hair loss, chest pain, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, pneumonia, and new-onset diabetes—appear more frequently in COVID-19 survivors months after infection. Younger people under 65 developed more of these long-term problems than older adults.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue of nurses in view of the challenges of contemporary psychiatric care. Do temperament and work environment matter?

Sygit-Kowalkowska, Ewa·Psychiatria polska·2021

This study looked at fatigue in psychiatric nurses and found that most experienced moderate to high levels of chronic fatigue. The research suggests that workplace communication problems—like unclear instructions and poor teamwork—may contribute to this fatigue, and that some people's personality traits may make them more resilient to fatigue than others.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Complement Component C1q as a Potential Diagnostic Tool for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Subtyping.

Castro-Marrero, Jesús, Zacares, Mario, Almenar-Pérez, Eloy et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

Researchers analyzed blood samples from 250 women with ME/CFS to see if specific blood markers could help identify different types of the disease. They found that about 43% of participants had high levels of a protein called C1q, which was particularly associated with those experiencing more pain symptoms. This discovery suggests that blood tests might one day help doctors identify which ME/CFS patients belong to which subgroup, potentially leading to better tailored treatments.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Who should we ask about mental health symptoms in adolescents with CFS/ME? Parent-child agreement on the revised children's anxiety and depression scale.

Serafimova, Teona, Loades, Maria, Gaunt, Daisy et al.·Clinical child psychology and psychiatry·2021

This study looked at how well parents and teenagers with ME/CFS agreed when reporting on anxiety and depression symptoms. Researchers compared what 93 teenagers said about their mental health with what their parents said, using a standard questionnaire. Both teenagers and parents were reasonably accurate at spotting mental health problems, though teenagers more often reported reaching diagnostic thresholds. The findings suggest that doctors should listen to both the young person and their parent, since severe fatigue might make it harder for teenagers to fully report their symptoms on their own.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Comorbidities in a Nationwide, Heterogenous Population of Veterans with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome.

Laden, Bethany F, Bresee, Catherine, De Hoedt, Amanda et al.·Urology·2021

This study looked at how often people with bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) also have other health conditions, using data from a large group of veterans. Researchers found that people with IC/BPS are much more likely to have multiple overlapping conditions—including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, IBS, and migraines—as well as mental health challenges like depression and trauma. These patterns were especially strong in women.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Potential of Activin B as a Clinical Biomarker in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Gravelsina, Sabine, Nora-Krukle, Zaiga, Vilmane, Anda et al.·Biomolecules·2021

Researchers tested whether a protein called activin B could be used as a simple blood test to diagnose ME/CFS. They compared activin B levels in 134 people with ME/CFS and 54 healthy people, but found no meaningful difference between the two groups. Based on these results, activin B does not appear to be a useful diagnostic tool for ME/CFS.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCase-Control

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Autoimmunity and Related Impairment of Hormone Secretions in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

De Bellis, Annamaria, Bellastella, Giuseppe, Pernice, Vlenia et al.·The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2021

This study looked for specific immune system antibodies that attack the pituitary and hypothalamus—two small brain structures that control hormone production—in people with ME/CFS. Researchers found these antibodies in more than half of ME/CFS patients but none in healthy controls. Patients with these antibodies had lower levels of important hormones (like cortisol and growth hormone), and those with the highest antibody levels had the most severe ME/CFS symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Anticipation of and response to exercise in adolescents with CFS: An experimental study.

Loades, M E, Chalder, T, Smakowski, A et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2021

This study looked at how adolescents with ME/CFS approach and perform a simple exercise task (standing up and sitting down repeatedly) compared to healthy teenagers and those with asthma. Teens with ME/CFS took longer to complete the task, expected to do worse beforehand, felt the effort was much harder, and felt more anxious about it—patterns that parents noticed too. The researchers suggest that difficult past experiences with exercise may lead to lower confidence and worry that affects how people with ME/CFS approach physical activity.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Potential role of microbiome in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelits (CFS/ME).

Lupo, Giuseppe Francesco Damiano, Rocchetti, Gabriele, Lucini, Luigi et al.·Scientific reports·2021

This study looked at the bacteria living in the gut and mouth of people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have different types and amounts of bacteria in their intestines, including fewer beneficial bacteria and more of certain harmful ones. They also found differences in the chemical makeup of patients' stool samples. These differences suggest that gut bacteria imbalance may play a role in ME/CFS, though scientists don't yet know if this is a cause or a result of the illness.

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Analysis of Gender Differences in HRV of Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using Mobile-Health Technology.

Parent-child discrepancies in health-related quality of life of children and adolescents with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Evaluation of Immune Dysregulation in an Austrian Patient Cohort Suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Monitoring treatment harm in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A freedom-of-information study of National Health Service specialist centres in England.

How common are depression and anxiety in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and how should we screen for these mental health co-morbidities? A clinical cohort study.

Markers of Cardiac Autonomic Function During Consecutive Day Peak Exercise Tests in People With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Comparison of the finger plethysmography derived stroke volumes by Nexfin CO Trek and suprasternal aortic Doppler derived stroke volume measurements in adults with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and in healthy controls.

Perceptions of European ME/CFS Experts Concerning Knowledge and Understanding of ME/CFS among Primary Care Physicians in Europe: A Report from the European ME/CFS Research Network (EUROMENE).

Reduced Parasympathetic Reactivation during Recovery from Exercise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Chronotropic Incompetence in Non-Hospitalized Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome.

Post-Acute COVID-19 Symptoms, a Potential Link with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A 6-Month Survey in a Mexican Cohort.

Evolving phenotypes of non-hospitalized patients that indicate long COVID.

Chronic fatigue of nurses in view of the challenges of contemporary psychiatric care. Do temperament and work environment matter?

Complement Component C1q as a Potential Diagnostic Tool for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Subtyping.

Who should we ask about mental health symptoms in adolescents with CFS/ME? Parent-child agreement on the revised children's anxiety and depression scale.

Comorbidities in a Nationwide, Heterogenous Population of Veterans with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome.

Potential of Activin B as a Clinical Biomarker in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Autoimmunity and Related Impairment of Hormone Secretions in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Anticipation of and response to exercise in adolescents with CFS: An experimental study.

Potential role of microbiome in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelits (CFS/ME).

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