Disability: Difference between revisions

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*54% of ME/CFS patients reported being unemployed<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nap.edu/read/19012/chapter/13#260|title=Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Redefining an Illness|website=www.nationalacademies.org|access-date=2019-02-20|date=2015|last=|first=|authorlink=|last2=|first2=|authorlink2=|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|page=|publisher=|pages=260-261|at=}}</ref>
*54% of ME/CFS patients reported being unemployed<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nap.edu/read/19012/chapter/13#260|title=Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Redefining an Illness|website=www.nationalacademies.org|access-date=2019-02-20|date=2015|last=|first=|authorlink=|last2=|first2=|authorlink2=|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|page=|publisher=|pages=260-261|at=}}</ref>
*25% of ME/CFS patients are housebound or bedbound at some point in their illness<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2015/MECFS/MECFS_KeyFacts.pdf|title=Myalgic Encelphalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Key Facts|last=|first=|authorlink=|last2=|first2=|authorlink2=|date=2015|website=nationalacademies.org|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=}}</ref>
*25% of ME/CFS patients are housebound or bedbound at some point in their illness<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2015/MECFS/MECFS_KeyFacts.pdf|title=Myalgic Encelphalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Key Facts|last=|first=|authorlink=|last2=|first2=|authorlink2=|date=2015|website=nationalacademies.org|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=}}</ref>
*A number of studies and patient surveys have found patients with ME/CFS to have, on average, a lower quality of life, to be more severely disabled, and to have more comorbid chronic illnesses than patients with any of the other chronic illnesses used for comparison. (Neurological Alliance, 2019;<ref name="neuropatience">{{Citation|last=The Neurological Alliance|first=|title=Neuro Patience. Still waiting for improvements in treatment and care.|date=2019|url=https://www.neural.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/neuro-patience-2019-1.pdf|edition=|isbn=|access-date=Sep 27, 2021|author-link=Neurological Alliance}}</ref> Hvidberg et al. 2015; Nacul et al. 2011<ref name="Nacul2011">{{Cite journal|last=Nacul|first=Luis C|author-link=Luis Nacul|last2=Lacerda|first2=Eliana M|author-link2=Eliana Lacerda|last3=Campion|first3=Peter|author-link3=|last4=Pheby|first4=Derek|author-link4=Derek Pheby|last5=Drachler|first5=Maria de L|author-link5=Maria de L Drachler|last6=Leite|first6=José C|author-link6=|last7=Poland|first7=Fiona|author-link7=|last8=Howe|first8=Amanda|author-link8=|last9=Fayyaz|first9=Shagufta|author-link9=|date=2011-05-27|title=The functional status and well being of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and their carers|url=https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-402|journal=BMC Public Health|language=en|volume=11|issue=1|pages=402|doi=10.1186/1471-2458-11-402|issn=1471-2458|pmc=3123211|pmid=21619607|quote=|via=}}</ref>)
*A number of studies and patient surveys have found patients with ME/CFS to have, on average, a lower quality of life, to be more severely disabled, and to have more comorbid chronic illnesses than patients with any of the other chronic illnesses used for comparison. (Neurological Alliance, 2019<ref name="neuropatience">{{Citation|last=The Neurological Alliance|first=|title=Neuro Patience. Still waiting for improvements in treatment and care.|date=2019|url=https://www.neural.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/neuro-patience-2019-1.pdf|edition=|isbn=|access-date=Sep 27, 2021|author-link=Neurological Alliance}}</ref>; Hvidberg et al. 2015<ref name=Hvidberg2015>{{citation
| last1 = Hvidberg | first1 = Michael Falk | authorlink1 = Michael Falk Hvidberg
| last2 = Brinth | first2 = Louise Schouborg | authorlink2 = Louise Schouborg Brinth
| last3 = Olesen | first3 = Anne V | authorlink3 = Anne V Oleson
| last4 = Petersen | first4 = Karin D | authorlink4 = Karin Peterson
| last5 = Ehlers | first5 = Lars | authorlink5 = Lars Ehlers
| title = The Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
| journal = PLoS One|volume =10 |issue =7 | page=e0132421
| date = 6 Jul 2015
| doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0132421
| url = http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0132421
}}</ref>; Nacul et al. 2011<ref name="Nacul2011">{{Cite journal|last=Nacul|first=Luis C|author-link=Luis Nacul|last2=Lacerda|first2=Eliana M|author-link2=Eliana Lacerda|last3=Campion|first3=Peter|author-link3=|last4=Pheby|first4=Derek|author-link4=Derek Pheby|last5=Drachler|first5=Maria de L|author-link5=Maria de L Drachler|last6=Leite|first6=José C|author-link6=|last7=Poland|first7=Fiona|author-link7=|last8=Howe|first8=Amanda|author-link8=|last9=Fayyaz|first9=Shagufta|author-link9=|date=2011-05-27|title=The functional status and well being of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and their carers|url=https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-402|journal=BMC Public Health|language=en|volume=11|issue=1|pages=402|doi=10.1186/1471-2458-11-402|issn=1471-2458|pmc=3123211|pmid=21619607|quote=|via=}}</ref>)


== Evaluation of Disability ==
== Evaluation of Disability ==

Revision as of 21:13, September 27, 2021

The degree of disability experienced by ME/CFS patients covers a wide range, but can be very severe.

Statistics[edit | edit source]

  • 54% of ME/CFS patients reported being unemployed[1]
  • 25% of ME/CFS patients are housebound or bedbound at some point in their illness[2]
  • A number of studies and patient surveys have found patients with ME/CFS to have, on average, a lower quality of life, to be more severely disabled, and to have more comorbid chronic illnesses than patients with any of the other chronic illnesses used for comparison. (Neurological Alliance, 2019[3]; Hvidberg et al. 2015[4]; Nacul et al. 2011[5])

Evaluation of Disability[edit | edit source]

United States

BOX C-1[6]

Social Security Administration Evaluation of Disability

Medical Evidence

For the purposes of Social Security Disability evaluation, in addition to a diagnosis of ME/CFS that meets the Fukuda case definition, one or more of the following medical signs clinically documented over a period of at least 6 consecutive months is required to establish the existence of a medically determinable impairment (MDI) of CFS:[6]

  • palpably swollen or tender lymph nodes on physical examination;
  • nonexudative pharyngitis;
  • persistent, reproducible muscle tenderness on repeated examinations, including the presence of positive tender points; or
  • any other medical signs that are consistent with medically accepted clinical practice and are consistent with the other evidence in the case record. For example, the Canadian Consensus Criteria (CCC) and International Consensus Criteria for ME (ME-ICC) explain that an acute infectious inflammatory event may precede the onset of CFS, and that other medical signs may be present, including

Laboratory Findings

Specific laboratory findings are not well established for ME/CFS. However, certain laboratory findings may support the finding of an MDI in people with ME/CFS even in the absence of the medical evidence listed above. It is not unusual to find standard laboratory tests in the normal range for many patients with ME/CFS, and SSA advises that such tests should not be relied upon to the exclusion of all other clinical evidence in decisions regarding the presence and severity of an MDI. The following laboratory findings establish the existence of an MDI in people with ME/CFS:[6]

New laboratory and clinical evidence may emerge with continued research in ME/CFS. According to SSA, these findings may be considered, in conjunction with laboratory findings discussed above, in the assessment of an MDI. Depending on the type of assessment, ongoing mental limitations[7] or neurocognitive manifestations[8] documented by a mental status examination or psychological testing may be considered medical signs or laboratory findings.

SOURCE: Social Security Ruling, 2014.[6]

See also[edit | edit source]

Departments of Disability and Benefits

Other

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Redefining an Illness". www.nationalacademies.org. 2015. pp. 260–261. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  2. "Myalgic Encelphalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Key Facts" (PDF). nationalacademies.org. 2015.
  3. The Neurological Alliance (2019), Neuro Patience. Still waiting for improvements in treatment and care. (PDF), retrieved September 27, 2021
  4. Hvidberg, Michael Falk; Brinth, Louise Schouborg; Olesen, Anne V; Petersen, Karin D; Ehlers, Lars (July 6, 2015), "The Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)", PLoS One, 10 (7): e0132421, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0132421
  5. Nacul, Luis C; Lacerda, Eliana M; Campion, Peter; Pheby, Derek; Drachler, Maria de L; Leite, José C; Poland, Fiona; Howe, Amanda; Fayyaz, Shagufta (May 27, 2011). "The functional status and well being of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and their carers". BMC Public Health. 11 (1): 402. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-402. ISSN 1471-2458. PMC 3123211. PMID 21619607.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "Myalgic Encelphalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Redefining an Illness". nap.edu. 2015. pp. 258–259.
  7. "Eiligibility for Disability Benefits and Mental Symptoms & Limitations". James Disability Law. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  8. "Medical Definition of NEUROCOGNITIVE". Merrian-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  9. "'I've been treated like a liar and a fake'". BBC News. February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2019.