Category: Prevalence

Prevalence of chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome in Korea: community-based primary care study

Abstract:

There have been many epidemiological and clinical researches on chronic fatigue (CF) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) since the 1990s, but such studies have been quite limited in Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the point prevalence of CF and CFS in patients who visited community-based eight primary care clinics in Korea. The study subjects were 1,648 patients aged 18 yr and over who visited one of eight primary care clinics in Korea between the 7th and 17th of May 2001. The physicians determined the status of the subjects through fatigue-related questionnaires, medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. The subjects were categorized into no fatigue, prolonged fatigue, CF and then CF were further classified to medically explained CF (Physical CF and Psychological CF) and medically unexplained CF (CFS and idiopathic chronic fatigue). The point prevalence of CF and CFS were 8.4% (95% CI 7.1-9.7%) and 0.6% (95% CI 0.2-1.0%). Medically explained CF was 80.5% of CF, of which 57.1% had psychological causes. The clinical characteristics of CFS were distinguished from explained CF. CF was common but CFS was rare in community-based primary care settings in Korea.

 

Source: Kim CH, Shin HC, Won CW. Prevalence of chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome in Korea: community-based primary care study. J Korean Med Sci. 2005 Aug;20(4):529-34. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2782143/ (Full article)

 

Prevalence of severe fatigue in primary care

Although chronic fatigue in UK adult primary care patients is relatively common,1 there have been no comparative studies in children. Estimates of the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or CFS-like illness in children vary widely according to case definition and methodology and range from 2.7/100 0002 to 570/ 100 000,3 although they all suggest that the prevalence is lower than among adults.1

You can read the rest of this article here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1720362/pdf/v090p00367.pdf

 

Source: Haines LC, Saidi G, Cooke RW. Prevalence of severe fatigue in primary care. Arch Dis Child. 2005 Apr;90(4):367-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1720362/pdf/v090p00367.pdf (Full article)

 

Sociodemographic and symptom correlates of fatigue in an adolescent primary care sample

Abstract:

PURPOSE: To describe the prevalence of prolonged fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)-like illness, and associated symptom patterns in adolescents attending primary care.

METHODS: The design was cross-sectional. A questionnaire designed by the authors assessing fatigue and associated symptoms was administered to 901 adolescents (aged 11-18 years) attending 12 primary care clinics in the Chicago area. Prevalence rates for prolonged fatigue and CFS-like illness were calculated. Univariate comparisons involving sociodemographic data and fatigue severity were made between adolescents with and without prolonged fatigue, and sociodemographic and symptom predictors of prolonged fatigue were identified using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: Prolonged fatigue (> or = 1 month) occurred at a rate of 8.0% and CFS-like illness occurred at a rate of 4.4%. Adolescents with prolonged fatigue were significantly older and also reported greater fatigue severity than those without fatigue. Findings from logistic regression indicated that, in addition to increasing age, headaches, muscle pains, fever, and fatigue made worse by exercise were significantly associated with prolonged fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal fatigue is a disabling and prevalent condition in adolescents in primary care. It is associated with a number of additional symptoms, many of which may have viral origins.

 

Source: Mears CJ, Taylor RR, Jordan KM, Binns HJ; Pediatric Practice Research Group. Sociodemographic and symptom correlates of fatigue in an adolescent primary care sample. J Adolesc Health. 2004 Dec;35(6):528e.21-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15581533

 

Regional prevalence of fatiguing illnesses in the United States before and after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Stress or emotional traumas are considered risk factors for unexplained fatiguing illnesses. From July to December 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a multigeographical pilot study to test the feasibility of a survey to estimate the prevalence of fatiguing illnesses in the United States. We used data obtained during this survey to estimate the effect of the coincidentally occurring terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, on the regional prevalence of fatiguing illnesses.

METHODS: Identified by random-digit dialing, 2,728 households in eight regional strata were interviewed, and 7,317 respondents were screened for severe fatigue of at least 1 month duration. Identified fatigued people of age 18 to 69 years (N = 440) and a sample of nonfatigued people of the same age range (N = 444) were interviewed in detail concerning fatigue, other symptoms, and medical and psychiatric histories.

RESULTS: Weighted prevalence estimates based on interviews performed after the attacks were significantly lower compared with estimates based on interviews performed before the attacks (prolonged fatigue: 5,450 vs. 1,530/100,000, p =.010; chronic fatigue: 18,510 vs. 10,070/100,000, p =.002; chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness: 2,510 vs. 960/100,000, p =.014).

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest decreased regional prevalence of fatiguing illnesses in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. The causes of this effect are unknown but might involve acute psychological and physiological adaptations that modify the perception or manifestation of fatigue. Future studies should be specifically designed to scrutinize the relationship between stress and fatiguing illnesses and the mediating mechanisms of such a relationship.

 

Source: Heim C, Bierl C, Nisenbaum R, Wagner D, Reeves WC. Regional prevalence of fatiguing illnesses in the United States before and after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Psychosom Med. 2004 Sep-Oct;66(5):672-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15385690

 

Chronic fatigue syndrome and other fatiguing illnesses in adolescents: a population-based study

Abstract:

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and describe characteristics of other fatiguing illnesses in adolescents (aged 12 through 17 years).

METHODS: We conducted a random digit dialing survey of the residents of Wichita, Kansas. Adults identified fatigued adolescents in the household and answered questions relating to the child’s health. Selected adolescents were invited to attend a clinic with a parent/guardian. After clinical evaluation they were classified as CFS or another fatigue state as defined in the 1994 CFS definition. Annual telephone interviews and clinical evaluations monitored subjects’ fatigue status. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, the Mantel-Haenszel test, and the exact McNemar test.

RESULTS: The survey contacted 34,018 households with 90,316 residents. Of 8586 adolescents, 138 had fatigue for > or =1 month and most (107 or 78%) had chronic fatigue (> or =6 months) at some point during the 3-year follow-up. Twenty-eight had exclusionary diagnoses. Thirty-one were considered to have a CFS-like illness and were invited for clinical evaluation. Eleven agreed to participate and none met the CFS case definition. The baseline weighted prevalence of CFS-like illness was 338 per 100,000. Significant differences existed between parental and adolescents’ descriptions of illness.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CFS among adolescents was considerably lower than among adults. Evaluation of CFS in adolescents must consider both parent and patient perception of fatigue and other illnesses that might explain the symptom complex.

 

Source: Jones JF, Nisenbaum R, Solomon L, Reyes M, Reeves WC. Chronic fatigue syndrome and other fatiguing illnesses in adolescents: a population-based study. J Adolesc Health. 2004 Jul;35(1):34-40. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15193572

 

Prevalence of chronic disabling fatigue in children and adolescents

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of chronic fatiguing illnesses in young people is poorly understood.

AIMS: To estimate the lifetime prevalence of different definitions of chronic fatigue in 8- to 17-year-olds.

METHOD: Participants came from two population-based twin series. Parents completed self-report questionnaires that inquired whether either child had ever experienced more than a few days of disabling fatigue. Telephone interviews were undertaken for individuals who had experienced such an episode.

RESULTS: Questionnaires were returned by 1468 families (65% response rate) and telephone interviews were undertaken regarding 99 of the 129 subjects (77%) who had experienced fatigue. The lifetime prevalence estimates ranged from 2.34% (95% CI 1.75-2.94) for disabling fatigue lasting 3 months to 1.29% (95% CI 0.87-1.71) for a disorder resembling adult operationally defined chronic fatigue syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS: From the age of 11 years, young people have similar rates and types of chronic fatiguing illnesses to adults.

 

Source: Farmer A, Fowler T, Scourfield J, Thapar A. Prevalence of chronic disabling fatigue in children and adolescents. Br J Psychiatry. 2004 Jun;184:477-81. http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/184/6/477.long  (Full article)

 

Prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome-like caseness in the working population: results from the Maastricht cohort study

Abstract:

AIM: To determine the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)-like caseness in the working population.

METHODS: Using data from the prospective Maastricht Cohort Study on Fatigue at Work, the prevalence and incidence of CFS-like cases (employees meeting research criteria for CFS) were determined among 5499 employees who responded to the follow up assessment 3 years and 8 months after baseline.

RESULTS: Of the 5499 employees, 199 (3.6%) were identified as CFS-like cases. By deleting possible CFS-like cases at baseline, the annual incidence of CFS-like caseness was estimated to be 85 per 10 000. Twenty employees (0.36%) reported having been diagnosed with CFS by a physician.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CFS-like cases (3.6%) was considerably higher than the prevalence of CFS reported in previous studies (0.006-3%). These findings suggest that the CFS-like caseness may be underdetected in the working population and perhaps in other populations as well.

 

Source: Huibers MJ, Kant IJ, Swaen GM, Kasl SV. Prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome-like caseness in the working population: results from the Maastricht cohort study. Occup Environ Med. 2004 May;61(5):464-6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1740780/ (Full article)

 

Regional distribution of fatiguing illnesses in the United States: a pilot study

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness with no known cause or effective therapy. Population-based epidemiologic data on CFS prevalence are critical to put CFS in a realistic context for public health officials and others responsible for allocating resources.

METHODS: We conducted a pilot random-digit-dialing survey to estimate the prevalence of fatiguing illnesses in different geographic regions and in urban and rural populations of the United States. This report focuses on 884 of 7,317 respondents 18 to 69 years old. Fatigued (440) and randomly selected non-fatigued (444) respondents completed telephone questionnaires concerning fatigue, other symptoms, and medical history.

RESULTS: We estimated 12,186 per 100,000 persons 18 to 69 years of age suffered from fatigue lasting for at least 6 months (chronic fatigue), and 1,197 per 100,000 described an illness that, though lacking clinical evaluation, met criteria for CFS (CFS-like). Chronic fatigue and CFS-like illness were more common in rural than in urban populations, although the differences were not significant. The prevalence of these fatiguing illnesses did not differ meaningfully among the four regions surveyed, and no significant geographic trends were observed.

CONCLUSIONS: This investigation estimated that nearly 2.2 million American adults suffer from CFS-like illness. The study also suggested the need to focus future investigations of fatigue on populations with lower incomes and less education. There was no evidence for regional differences in the occurrence of fatiguing illnesses.

 

Source: Bierl C, Nisenbaum R, Hoaglin DC, Randall B, Jones AB, Unger ER, Reeves WC. Regional distribution of fatiguing illnesses in the United States: a pilot study. Popul Health Metr. 2004 Feb 4;2(1):1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC356930/ (Full article)

 

Epidemiology of chronic fatigue syndrome and self reported myalgic encephalomyelitis in 5-15 year olds: cross sectional study

Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterised by severe physical and mental fatigue associated with disability, which by definition markedly affects people’s lives. At one end of the spectrum, newspaper headlines imply that chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis in children is of epidemic proportions, whereas at the other end the existence of the disorder is refuted. Attempts have been made to assess the size of the problem in the community, general practice, schools, and secondary care.w1-w5 Methodological problems, however, such as selection biases and poor response rates make it difficult to draw conclusions from these studies. We are unaware of any population studies in the United Kingdom that examine the prevalence of and factors associated with chronic fatigue syndrome in children. We determined the prevalence of chronic fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, and reported myalgic encephalomyelitis in 5-15 year olds and examined demographic and psychiatric associations.

You can read the rest of this article here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC196393/

 

Source: Chalder T, Goodman R, Wessely S, Hotopf M, Meltzer H. Epidemiology of chronic fatigue syndrome and self reported myalgic encephalomyelitis in 5-15 year olds: cross sectional study. BMJ. 2003 Sep 20;327(7416):654-5.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC196393/ (Full article)

Distinguishing patients with chronic fatigue from those with chronic fatigue syndrome: a diagnostic study in UK primary care

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has been defined, but many more patients consult in primary care with chronic fatigue that does not meet the criteria for CFS. General practitioners (GPs) do not generally use the CFS diagnosis, and have some doubt about the validity of CFS as an illness.

AIM: To describe the proportion of patients consulting their GP for fatigue that met the criteria for CFS, and to describe the social, psychological, and physical differences between patients with CFS and those with non-CFS chronic fatigue in primary care.

DESIGN OF STUDY: Baseline data from a trial of complex interventions for fatigue in primary care.

SETTING: Twenty-two general practices located in London and the South Thames region of the United Kingdom recruited patients to the study between 1999 and 2001.

METHOD: One hundred and forty-one patients who presented to their GP with unexplained fatigue lasting six months or more as a main symptom were recruited, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) case definition was applied to classify CFS.

RESULTS: Approximately two-thirds (69%) of patients had chronic fatigue and not CFS. The duration of fatigue (32 months) and perceived control over fatigue were similar between groups; however, fatigue, functioning, associated symptoms, and psychological distress were more severe in the patients in the CFS group, who also consulted their GP significantly more frequently, were twice as likely to be depressed, and more than twice as likely to be unemployed. About half (CFS = 50%; chronic fatigue = 55%) in each group attributed their fatigue to mainly psychological causes.

CONCLUSIONS: In primary care, CFS is a more severe illness than chronic fatigue, but non-CFS chronic fatigue is associated with significant fatigue and is reported at least twice as often. That half of patients, irrespective of CFS status, attribute their fatigue to psychological causes, more than is observed in secondary care, indicates an openness to the psychological therapies provided in that setting. More evidence on the natural history of chronic fatigue and CFS in primary care is required, as are trials of complex interventions. The results may help determine the usefulness of differentiating between chronic fatigue and CFS.

 

Source: Darbishire L, Ridsdale L, Seed PT. Distinguishing patients with chronic fatigue from those with chronic fatigue syndrome: a diagnostic study in UK primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 2003 Jun;53(491):441-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1314617/ (Full article)