Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Volume 14, Issue 2, 2007

Volume 14, Issue 2, 2007

 * Editorial by Elke Van Hoof, Kenny De Meirleir & Neil McGregor
 * Nine-Year Follow-Up of Danish Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Patients: Impact on Health, Social, Vocational, and Personal Lives"'Abstract - Objective: To determine quality of life (QOL) and health in Danish CFS patients 9 years after diagnosis. Methods: Thirty-four adults with CFS responded to questions regarding QOL at diagnosis, and again 5 and 9 years later. At 9-year follow-up patients also responded to questions regarding health, fatigue, use of Health Care system, alcohol and exercise. Results: Two patients (6%) had recovered and 3 patients (10%) had received secondary diagnoses. Overall, there was no improvement, except with depression/anxiety. The order of severity among disabilities remained the same. Work had the highest disability score, followed by post-exertional malaise. Patients slept and rested 13.6 hours a day (mean). Self-reported physical health correlated with hours sleeping and resting. Rheumatic symptoms dominated the health symptoms. Alcohol consumption was low, and the use of the Health Care system was modest. Conclusion: After 9 years QOL was the same as at diagnosis, only mental health had improved.'"
 * The Effectiveness of Early Educational Intervention in Improving Future Physicians' Attitudes Regarding CFS/FM"'Abstract - Objective: To assess the effects of an early educational intervention program's ability to alter the perceptions and attitudes of future physicians regarding chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia (CFS/FM), improve their understanding and acceptance of these diseases, make them feel more comfortable in diagnosing and treating patients. Method: Third-year medical students were surveyed before and after an educational intervention program. The three questions posed to the students in the survey were: (1) How comfortable do you feel you are in diagnosing and treating patients with CFS /FM?, (2) Do you consider CFS/FM legitimate illnesses?, and (3) Do you want to treat patients with CFS/FM? Results: The educational intervention program helped about half of the future physicians feel comfortable in diagnosing and treating patients with CFS/FM and improved by over 25% their willingness to treat patients with CFS. Conclusion: An educational intervention program appeared to improve future physicians' understanding and appreciation of CFS/FM, made them feel more comfortable diagnosing and treating these diseases, and increased their willingness to treat patients with CFS/FM.'"
 * Health-Related Quality of Life in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome versus Rheumatoid Arthritis as Control Group"'Abstract - The objectives of this study were (1) evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); (2) to compare the HRQL of these patients with that of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy Spanish reference population values (RPV); and (3) to identify the influence of sociodemographic and clinical variables on HRQL in CFS patients. We included 216 outpatients: 94 females/14 males (age 42.9 ± 9.9 years) with CFS and 94 females/14 males with RA (age 42.9 ± 9.9 years). We used a cross-sectional, observational design. Sociodemographic data, comorbidities, pain (VAS) and global functional status were determined. HRQL was measured by the SF-36 and HAQ questionnaires. CFS patients had worse scores than RA patients in all SF36 dimensions except emotional role (p < 0.01). Both CFS and RA patients had worse scores in all SF36 dimensions than RPV. In CFS patients, pain negatively influenced HRQL (p < 0.05) except for physical role, social function and emotional role. Global functional status negatively influenced HRQL (p < 0.05) except for bodily pain, general health and mental health. Comorbidities worsened scores for physical and social functions and mental health. In conclusion, HRQL was worse in patients with CFS than in those with RA. Both CFS and RA patients had worse HRQL compared with RPV. Comorbidities, pain and global functional status influenced HRQL in CFS patients. Standardised HRQL instruments are of value in determining the quality of life in these patients.'"