Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia in Canada: prevalence and associations with six health status indicators

Abstract

Introduction Few studies have considered the factors independently associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and/or fibromyalgia (FM) or considered the impact of these conditions on health status using population-based data. Methods We used data from the nationally representative 2010 Canadian Community Health Survey (n= 59 101) to describe self-reported health professional-diagnosed CFS and/or FM, and their associations with 6 health status indicators. Results In 2010, diagnosed CFS and FM are reported by 1.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3%–1.6%) and 1.5% (1.4%–1.7%), respectively, of the Canadian household population aged 12 years and over, with comorbid CFS and FM affecting 0.3% (0.3%–0.4%) of that population. Prevalent CFS and/or FM were more common among women, adults aged 40 years and over, those with lowest income, and those with certain risk factors for chronic disease (i.e. obesity, physical inactivity and smoking). After controlling for differences between the groups, people with CFS and/or FM reported poorer health status than those with neither condition on 5 indicators of health status, but not on the measure of fair/poor mental health. Having both CFS and FM and having multiple comorbid conditions was associated with poorer health status. Conclusion Co-occurrence of CFS and FM and having other chronic conditions were strongly related to poorer health status and accounted for much of the differences in health status. Understanding factors contributing to improved quality of life in people with CFS and/or FM, particularly in those with both conditions and other comorbidities, may be an important area for future research.

Obesity in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: an observational study

“…For example, Rusu et al 4 reported no association between CFS and obesity in a large sample of Canadian adolescents and adults. In another large cohort study, Viner et al 1 observed no association between the prevalence of obesity and the less severe diagnosis of persistent fatigue in 1880 adolescents.…”

Fatigue in psoriasis: a controlled study

“…Another observation that may support this theory is that smokers reported more fatigue than nonsmokers. Others have also reported this association . Smoking causes oxidative stress, with subsequent increases of antioxidative defence and other mechanisms to protect cellular life.…”

“…Others have also reported this association. 33 Smoking causes oxidative stress, with subsequent increases of antioxidative defence and other mechanisms to protect cellular life. Fatigue is associated with oxidative stress in many chronic inflammatory disorders.…”

Genome-epigenome interactions associated with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

“…Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, hereafter referred to as ME/CFS) is a canonical example of a complex, multifactorial disease with symptoms that can vary substantially between patients. ME/CFS is a debilitating multisystem disease affecting millions to tens of millions of people globally [1][2][3][4][5][6], with an annual economic impact between $17 and $24 billion [7]. Yet the biological basis of ME/CFS remains largely unknown.…”