Tag: Australia

The economic impact of chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the economic impact of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) on the individual, the government, and the community.

DESIGN: The financial burden produced by CFS was studied by calculating the direct and indirect costs arising from the disorder. Data regarding use of health resources, income and employment were obtained by questionnaire from patients with CFS. In addition, aggregate Medicare data on the incidence and fees charged for each Schedule item for these patients was obtained.

SETTING: The Richmond Valley, New South Wales.

PARTICIPANTS: Forty-two patients with CFS identified in our population-based prevalence study.

RESULTS: The conservative estimate of the per annum costs of CFS in the Richmond Valley, with a prevalence of 37.1 cases per 100,000, was $396,000. If extrapolated to the Australian population, we estimate CFS would generate an annual cost of at least $59 million.

CONCLUSION: This disorder constitutes a large but neglected area of health resource utilisation and economic burden.

Comment in: The economic impact of chronic fatigue syndrome. [Med J Aust. 1993]

 

Source: Lloyd AR, Pender H. The economic impact of chronic fatigue syndrome. Med J Aust. 1992 Nov 2;157(9):599-601. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1406420

 

Prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in an Australian population

Abstract:

An epidemiological study was undertaken to provide the first reported estimate of the point prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in an Australian community.

After a pilot study in a separate location, the population of the Richmond Valley, New South Wales, was sampled using a structured case-finding technique, which included notification from local medical practitioners, the use of a screening questionnaire and standardised interviews conducted by a physician and psychiatrist. In addition, investigations were performed to exclude alternative diagnoses and to assess cell-mediated immunity.

Forty-two patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, with a female:male ratio of 1.3:1.0, were detected in a population of 114,000. The mean age at onset of symptoms was 28.6 years (SD, 12.3 years), and the median duration of symptoms from onset to sampling date was 30 months. The social status of the patients was distributed in accordance with that of the remainder of the population sampled, with no bias towards the middle or upper social classes. The disorder was causing considerable incapacity, with 43% of patients unable to attend school or work.

The conservative estimate from this study suggests a prevalence on June 30 1988 of 37.1 cases per 100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI], 26.8-50.2). Chronic fatigue syndrome is an important disorder in this Australian community that affects young individuals from all social classes and causes considerable ill health and disability.

 

Source:  Lloyd AR, Hickie I, Boughton CR, Spencer O, Wakefield D. Prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in an Australian population. Med J Aust. 1990 Nov 5;153(9):522-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2233474