Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): A preliminary survey among patients in Switzerland
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a multi-factorial systemic chronic debilitating disease of poorly understood etiology and limited systematic evidence. The questionnaire and interview-based survey included 169 ME/CFS patients from the Swiss ME/CFS association. The major...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023028025 |
| _version_ | 1797815613784064000 |
|---|---|
| author | Rea Tschopp Rahel S. König Protazy Rejmer Daniel H. Paris |
| author_facet | Rea Tschopp Rahel S. König Protazy Rejmer Daniel H. Paris |
| author_sort | Rea Tschopp |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a multi-factorial systemic chronic debilitating disease of poorly understood etiology and limited systematic evidence. The questionnaire and interview-based survey included 169 ME/CFS patients from the Swiss ME/CFS association. The majority of patients were females (72.2%), single (55.7%) and without children (62.5%). Only one third were working (full/part-time). The mean onset of ME/CFS was 31.6 years of age with 15% of patients being symptomatic before their 18th birthday. In this cohort, patients had documented ME/CFS for a mean 13.7 years, whereby half (50.3%) stated their condition was progressively worsening. Triggering events and times of disease onset were recalled by 90% of the participants. An infectious disease was associated with a singular or part of multiple events by 72.9% and 80.6%, respectively. Prior to disease onset, a third of the patients reported respiratory infections; followed by gastro-intestinal infections (15.4%) and tick-borne diseases (16.2%). Viral infections were recalled by 77.8% of the respondents, with Epstein Barr Virus being the most commonly reported agent. Patients self-reported an average number of 13 different symptoms, all described specific triggers of symptoms exacerbation and 82.2% suffered from co-morbidities. This study collated clinically relevant information on ME/CFS patients in Switzerland, highlighting the extent of disease severity, the associated factors negatively affecting daily life activities and work status as well as potential socio-economic impact. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:25:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-088e48dacb8e4104a687cbbbf95cdea9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:25:27Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-088e48dacb8e4104a687cbbbf95cdea92023-05-31T04:44:52ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-05-0195e15595Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): A preliminary survey among patients in SwitzerlandRea Tschopp0Rahel S. König1Protazy Rejmer2Daniel H. Paris3Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; University of University of Basel, Switzerland; Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Jimma Road, PO Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Corresponding author. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 61, 4056 Basel, SwitzerlandSeegarten Clinic, Seestrasse 155A, 8802 Kilchberg ZH, SwitzerlandSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; University of University of Basel, SwitzerlandMyalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a multi-factorial systemic chronic debilitating disease of poorly understood etiology and limited systematic evidence. The questionnaire and interview-based survey included 169 ME/CFS patients from the Swiss ME/CFS association. The majority of patients were females (72.2%), single (55.7%) and without children (62.5%). Only one third were working (full/part-time). The mean onset of ME/CFS was 31.6 years of age with 15% of patients being symptomatic before their 18th birthday. In this cohort, patients had documented ME/CFS for a mean 13.7 years, whereby half (50.3%) stated their condition was progressively worsening. Triggering events and times of disease onset were recalled by 90% of the participants. An infectious disease was associated with a singular or part of multiple events by 72.9% and 80.6%, respectively. Prior to disease onset, a third of the patients reported respiratory infections; followed by gastro-intestinal infections (15.4%) and tick-borne diseases (16.2%). Viral infections were recalled by 77.8% of the respondents, with Epstein Barr Virus being the most commonly reported agent. Patients self-reported an average number of 13 different symptoms, all described specific triggers of symptoms exacerbation and 82.2% suffered from co-morbidities. This study collated clinically relevant information on ME/CFS patients in Switzerland, highlighting the extent of disease severity, the associated factors negatively affecting daily life activities and work status as well as potential socio-economic impact.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023028025Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndromeSwitzerlandDemographySymptomsCo-morbidity |
| spellingShingle | Rea Tschopp Rahel S. König Protazy Rejmer Daniel H. Paris Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): A preliminary survey among patients in Switzerland Heliyon Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome Switzerland Demography Symptoms Co-morbidity |
| title | Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): A preliminary survey among patients in Switzerland |
| title_full | Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): A preliminary survey among patients in Switzerland |
| title_fullStr | Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): A preliminary survey among patients in Switzerland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): A preliminary survey among patients in Switzerland |
| title_short | Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): A preliminary survey among patients in Switzerland |
| title_sort | myalgic encephalomyelitis chronic fatigue syndrome me cfs a preliminary survey among patients in switzerland |
| topic | Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome Switzerland Demography Symptoms Co-morbidity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023028025 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT reatschopp myalgicencephalomyelitischronicfatiguesyndromemecfsapreliminarysurveyamongpatientsinswitzerland AT rahelskonig myalgicencephalomyelitischronicfatiguesyndromemecfsapreliminarysurveyamongpatientsinswitzerland AT protazyrejmer myalgicencephalomyelitischronicfatiguesyndromemecfsapreliminarysurveyamongpatientsinswitzerland AT danielhparis myalgicencephalomyelitischronicfatiguesyndromemecfsapreliminarysurveyamongpatientsinswitzerland |