ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

81–100 of 278 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

The Impact of Micro RNA-320a Serum Level on Severity of Symptoms and Cerebral Processing of Pain in Patients with Fibromyalgia.

Hussein, Mona, Fathy, Wael, Abdelaleem, Enas A et al.·Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.)·2022

Researchers measured a molecule called miR-320a in the blood of people with fibromyalgia and compared it to healthy people. They found that fibromyalgia patients had higher levels of this molecule, and those with higher levels tended to have worse symptoms like pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and depression. However, this molecule did not appear to affect how the brain processes pain signals.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

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 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Somatic symptom disorder in patients with post-COVID-19 neurological symptoms: a preliminary report from the somatic study (Somatic Symptom Disorder Triggered by COVID-19).

Kachaner, Alexandra, Lemogne, Cédric, Dave, Julie et al.·Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry·2022

This study examined whether patients with long-lasting neurological symptoms after COVID-19 meet diagnostic criteria for somatic symptom disorder (SSD), a condition where psychological distress can amplify physical symptoms. Researchers evaluated 50 patients and found that about two-thirds met SSD criteria, though brain imaging and standard neurological tests were mostly normal. Most patients also had fatigue meeting chronic fatigue syndrome criteria, sleep problems, and significant work loss.

Sleep

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 not requiredObservational

Characteristics of Sleep Disturbance in Patients with Long COVID: A Retrospective Observational Study in Japan.

Sunada, Naruhiko, Nakano, Yasuhiro, Otsuka, Yuki et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2022

This study looked at sleep problems in 363 long COVID patients in Japan and found that about 16.5% had significant sleep disturbance. People infected during the Omicron wave were twice as likely to have sleep problems compared to those infected during the Delta wave. Patients with sleep disturbance also reported more fatigue, brain fog, headaches, and anxiety, and had abnormal stress hormone levels suggesting their bodies were under persistent stress.

SleepCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Transitional Changes in Fatigue-Related Symptoms Due to Long COVID: A Single-Center Retrospective Observational Study in Japan.

Nakano, Yasuhiro, Otsuka, Yuki, Honda, Hiroyuki et al.·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2022

This study compared long COVID symptoms in patients infected with different COVID-19 variants (Delta vs. Omicron) in Japan. Patients infected with Omicron had milder initial illness but were more likely to experience fatigue, sleep problems, and ongoing cough. Those infected with Delta were more likely to lose their sense of taste or smell and experience hair loss.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

Impact of Life Stressors on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms: An Australian Longitudinal Study.

Balinas, Cassandra, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Maksoud, Rebekah et al.·International journal of environmental research and public health·2021

This Australian study followed 36 ME/CFS patients over five months to see how life stressors affected their symptoms. The researchers found that major life changes like work disruptions or money problems were linked to worsening symptoms like brain fog, stomach issues, pain, and sleep problems. Interestingly, patients who had better access to healthcare and support services experienced fewer severe symptoms.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Fibromyalgia (FM): the foundation of a relationship.

Mckay, Pamela G, Martin, Colin R, Walker, Helen et al.·British journal of pain·2021

This study compared people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia (FM) to see if these two conditions share similar symptoms and severity. Researchers asked 208 participants from each group to complete questionnaires about their pain, fatigue, sleep quality, mood, and how much these symptoms affected their daily lives. The study found that both groups experienced similarly debilitating symptoms and poor quality of life, suggesting these conditions may be connected in important ways.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

Sarcoidosis among US Hispanics in a Nationwide Registry.

Innabi, Ayoub, Alzghoul, Bashar N, Kalra, Saminder et al.·Respiratory medicine·2021

This study looked at how sarcoidosis (a disease that causes inflammation in the body) affects Hispanic patients in the United States compared to non-Hispanic patients. Researchers surveyed nearly 3,835 people and found that Hispanic patients with sarcoidosis experience more depression, chronic pain, sleep problems, and job loss than non-Hispanic patients. The findings suggest that doctors may need to approach treatment differently for Hispanic patients with this condition.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The Epidemiology of Insomnia and Sleep Duration Across Mental and Physical Health: The SHoT Study.

Sivertsen, Børge, Hysing, Mari, Harvey, Allison G et al.·Frontiers in psychology·2021

This study looked at sleep problems in over 50,000 Norwegian college students and found that insomnia (difficulty sleeping) is much more common in people with both mental and physical health conditions. Students with ME/CFS had particularly high rates of insomnia—about 65% of women and an unspecified percentage of men experienced insomnia when they also had ME/CFS. The study also found that people with these conditions slept shorter amounts overall.

Sleep

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Post-Covid-19 Syndrome: Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life Following Psychology-Led Interdisciplinary Virtual Rehabilitation.

Harenwall, Sari, Heywood-Everett, Suzanne, Henderson, Rebecca et al.·Journal of primary care & community health·2021

Researchers created a 7-week online rehabilitation program for people recovering from long COVID, led by psychologists and a team of other health professionals. The program covered topics like managing fatigue, improving sleep, nutrition, stress management, and activity pacing. Among 76 participants who completed the program and filled out quality-of-life surveys, people reported significant improvements in their ability to move around, care for themselves, do daily activities, and manage pain and mood.

Sleep

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Fatigue-Related Cognitive-Behavioral Factors in Survivors of Childhood Cancer: Comparison with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Survivors of Adult-Onset Cancer.

van Deuren, Sylvia, van Dulmen-den Broeder, Eline, Boonstra, Amilie et al.·Journal of adolescent and young adult oncology·2021

This study compared how fatigue affects three groups: people who had cancer as children, people with ME/CFS, and people who had cancer as adults. Researchers looked at thinking patterns and behaviors that might keep fatigue going, like how people cope, sleep habits, and beliefs about their illness. They found many similarities between the groups, but some differences in how people explained their fatigue and how much support they had.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome: A survey of elderly female survivors in Egypt.

Aly, Menna A E G, Saber, Heba G·International journal of clinical practice·2021

This study looked at 115 elderly women in Egypt who had recovered from COVID-19 to see if their lingering symptoms might lead to chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Most women reported problems like fatigue, muscle pain, and sleep trouble after COVID, and the study found that stress, sadness, and poor sleep were most strongly linked to developing CFS-like symptoms. Only one person in the study actually met full criteria for probable CFS, but the researchers suggest doctors should watch for these warning signs in long COVID patients.

SleepCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Clinical Profile and Aspects of Differential Diagnosis in Patients with ME/CFS from Latvia.

Krumina, Angelika, Vecvagare, Katrine, Svirskis, Simons et al.·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2021

This study looked at 65 people with ME/CFS in Latvia to understand their main symptoms and how the condition differs from simple tiredness. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS commonly experience fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, and sleep problems—more often than people without ME/CFS. When patients had other health conditions alongside ME/CFS, their symptoms tended to be more severe.

Pain and SensitizationSleepDiagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Health Conditions and Psychotic Experiences: Cross-Sectional Findings From the American Life Panel.

Oh, Hans, Smith, Lee, Koyanagi, Ai·Frontiers in psychiatry·2020

This study looked at whether people who experience psychotic symptoms (like unusual beliefs or perceptions) also tend to have more physical health problems. Researchers surveyed a representative group of American adults and found that people reporting lifetime psychotic experiences were more likely to have conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pain, sleep disorders, migraines, and gastrointestinal problems. The more health conditions someone had, the stronger the association with psychotic experiences.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Sleep problems in adolescents with CFS: A case-control study nested within a prospective clinical cohort.

Loades, Maria Elizabeth, Rimes, Katharine A, Chalder, Trudie·Clinical child psychology and psychiatry·2020

This study looked at sleep problems in teenagers with ME/CFS compared to healthy teenagers and those with asthma. Teenagers with ME/CFS reported significantly more sleep difficulties than both comparison groups. When researchers checked in 3 months later without any treatment, sleep problems remained largely unchanged, suggesting that sleep issues in ME/CFS don't improve on their own and may need specific attention during treatment.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The presence of overlapping quality of life symptoms in primary antibody deficiency (PAD) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Bansal, Rhea A, Tadros, Susan, Bansal, Amolak S·Allergy, asthma, and clinical immunology : official journal of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·2020

This study looked at whether people with primary antibody deficiency (PAD)—a condition where the immune system doesn't make enough protective proteins—also experience ME/CFS-like symptoms. Researchers sent questionnaires to over 680 PAD patients and found that about 16% of those who responded had symptoms matching ME/CFS criteria, which is much higher than the general population. The study also found that sleep problems, fatigue, anxiety, and low mood were very common in PAD patients.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Health-related quality of life in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an Australian cross-sectional study.

Eaton-Fitch, N, Johnston, S C, Zalewski, P et al.·Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation·2020

This Australian study of 480 people with ME/CFS found that the condition severely impacts quality of life across all major areas—physical functioning, emotional well-being, pain, and energy levels. People with ME/CFS scored much lower on quality of life measures compared to the general population, with the lowest scores for physical activities and fatigue. The study identified specific symptoms like cognitive difficulties, sleep problems, and cardiovascular issues that are most strongly linked to reduced quality of life.

Pain and SensitizationSleepCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Associations of occupational stress, workplace violence, and organizational support on chronic fatigue syndrome among nurses.

Li, Mengyao, Shu, Qianyi, Huang, Hao et al.·Journal of advanced nursing·2020

This study examined whether workplace stress, violence, and lack of organizational support increase the risk of ME/CFS in nurses. Researchers surveyed 1,080 Chinese nurses and found that those experiencing high levels of overcommitment, workplace violence, and little support from their employers were significantly more likely to have ME/CFS. The findings suggest that improving workplace safety, support, and reducing internal stress could help prevent ME/CFS in this high-risk group.

SleepCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Emotional Awareness Correlated With Number of Awakenings From Polysomnography in Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-A Pilot Study.

Bileviciute-Ljungar, Indre, Friberg, Danielle·Frontiers in psychiatry·2020

This study examined the connection between emotional awareness and sleep problems in ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that patients who had difficulty recognizing and understanding their own emotions also experienced more frequent awakenings during sleep. The study involved 23 ME/CFS patients and 30 healthy controls who completed questionnaires about emotions, while the ME/CFS patients also underwent overnight sleep monitoring.

Sleep

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The Impact of Micro RNA-320a Serum Level on Severity of Symptoms and Cerebral Processing of Pain in Patients with Fibromyalgia.

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

Somatic symptom disorder in patients with post-COVID-19 neurological symptoms: a preliminary report from the somatic study (Somatic Symptom Disorder Triggered by COVID-19).

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

Characteristics of Sleep Disturbance in Patients with Long COVID: A Retrospective Observational Study in Japan.

Transitional Changes in Fatigue-Related Symptoms Due to Long COVID: A Single-Center Retrospective Observational Study in Japan.

Impact of Life Stressors on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms: An Australian Longitudinal Study.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Fibromyalgia (FM): the foundation of a relationship.

Sarcoidosis among US Hispanics in a Nationwide Registry.

The Epidemiology of Insomnia and Sleep Duration Across Mental and Physical Health: The SHoT Study.

Post-Covid-19 Syndrome: Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life Following Psychology-Led Interdisciplinary Virtual Rehabilitation.

Fatigue-Related Cognitive-Behavioral Factors in Survivors of Childhood Cancer: Comparison with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Survivors of Adult-Onset Cancer.

Long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome: A survey of elderly female survivors in Egypt.

Clinical Profile and Aspects of Differential Diagnosis in Patients with ME/CFS from Latvia.

Health Conditions and Psychotic Experiences: Cross-Sectional Findings From the American Life Panel.

Sleep problems in adolescents with CFS: A case-control study nested within a prospective clinical cohort.

The presence of overlapping quality of life symptoms in primary antibody deficiency (PAD) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Health-related quality of life in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an Australian cross-sectional study.

Associations of occupational stress, workplace violence, and organizational support on chronic fatigue syndrome among nurses.

Emotional Awareness Correlated With Number of Awakenings From Polysomnography in Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-A Pilot Study.

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