Health-related quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome: Predictors of physical functioning and psychological distress

Abstract

This study investigated health-related quality of life (HRQoL; physical functioning and psychological distress) in an Australian chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) population. The aims of the study were to compare HRQoL in those with CFS to the normal population, and to investigate the extent to which sociodemographic (age, gender, partner status, education), illness-related (illness duration, symptom frequency), and fatigue severity (physical, mental) variables predicted HRQoL. A total of 139 people meeting CFS criteria completed questionnaires. HRQoL was assessed using standardised measures of distress and physical functioning. Compared with norms, those with CFS obtained significantly lower scores on all physical functioning areas, whereas 63% of participants reported clinically significant psychological distress. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that physical fatigue severity and symptom frequency were the strongest predictors of deficits in physical domain HRQoL. Physical HRQoL outcomes were also predicted by mental fatigue severity, older age, and female gender. All predictors were unrelated to psychological distress apart from weak positive associations with physical fatigue and symptom frequency. Results identify a potent set of predictors of HRQoL and show that CFS has a pervasive negative impact on quality of life, particularly physical and psychological functioning.

Psycho-physiological impact on women with chronic fatigue syndrome in the context of their couple relationship

“…Nevertheless, the present results support previous research, which has suggested that in addition to the help of qualified professionals, partners could become a key resource in terms of helping patients cope with CFS (Garralda & Chalder, 2005). More formal strategies are clearly needed for the care of CFS patients not only in terms of physical aspects, by means of pharmacological treatments or physical exercise (Karper & Stasik, 2003;Segar, Eccles, & Richardson, 2008), but also on the emotional and social levels (Friedberg & Sohl, 2009;Jason et al, 2003;Lowry & Pakenham, 2008).…”

Quality and acceptability of patient-reported outcome measures used in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME): a systematic review

“…With the exception of floor effects reported for the PF domain, the SF-36 had acceptable measurement properties. A single study provided limited evidence in support of the validity of the SF-36 (Version 2), but did not describe the precision of the revised PF domain [112]. Evidence of precision was not found for other generic measures.…”

An Italian Study on Health-Related Quality of Life and Fatigue in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Patients with Chronic HCV Virus Infection: Similarities and Differences

“…: a viral infection), and for this reason, the syndrome is also called "Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome" (CFIDS) (8). CFS is characterised by severe prolonged fatigue, and decreases in cognition and other physiological functions, resulting in severe loss of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) more than that observed in other chronic medical conditions (9)(10). On the other hand, the self-perceived HRQoL of these patients could influence the clinical presentation of the syndrome in a negative way ( II ).…”