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Causes of death

2026-04-19T18:03:52Z

Tobiwankenobi:Replace broken graph output with uploaded infographic files

[[File:Causes_of_death_in_MECFS_vs_US_average_2014.png|alt=Infographic comparing causes of death in ME/CFS versus U.S. average in 2014.|left|thumb|900px|Causes of death in ME/CFS vs U.S. average (2014). Source: McManimen et al. (2016).]]

Statistics on the '''causes of death''' of [[Myalgic encephalomyelitis|myalgic encephalomyelitis]] (ME) and/or [[chronic fatigue syndrome]] (CFS) patients vary greatly. Some factors that influence statistics on cause of death include case definitions, regional differences, access to medical resources, and the presence of comorbid illnesses.<br style="clear:both">

== Age of deaths due to ME/CFS ==
In England and Wales, most people whose deaths were caused fully or partly by [[ME/CFS]] were of working age, with the youngest dying in their late teens.<ref name="ONS2018" />
[[File:Deaths_caused_by_MECFS_England_Wales_2001_2016_age_at_death.png|alt=Infographic showing age at death for deaths partly or fully caused by ME/CFS in England and Wales from 2001 to 2016.|left|thumb|900px|Deaths partly or fully caused by ME/CFS in England and Wales (2001–2016): age at death. Source: Office for National Statistics.]]

[[File:Deaths_caused_by_MECFS_England_Wales_2001_2016_year_of_death.png|alt=Infographic showing year of death for deaths partly or fully caused by ME/CFS in England and Wales from 2001 to 2016.|left|thumb|900px|Deaths partly or fully caused by ME/CFS in England and Wales (2001–2016): year of death. Source: Office for National Statistics.]]
Deaths from ME/CFS are very rare, and ME/CFS is rarely recorded on death certificates. In England and Wales, between 2001 and 2016, 88 death certificates stated that the death was either partly or fully caused by myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome,<ref name="ONS2018" /> which is less than six deaths per year.

==Life expectancy ==
Life expectancy studies in ME/CFS have generally shown lowered life expectancy, with a higher all-cause mortality found by McManimen et al. (2016). Analysis from an online memorial showing over half of ME/CFS patients died of heart failure, [[suicide]] or [[cancer]], with ages of death from both suicide and cancer being considered earlier than in the general population.<ref name="Jason, Corradi, 2006" /> A study of elderly ME/CFS patients with cancer by

Chang et al. (2012) found Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) rates were significantly higher in ME/CFS patients than the general US population, especially diffuse large [[B cell]] lymphoma.<ref name="Chang2012" />

==Notable studies==
*2016, Mortality in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome<ref name="McManimen2016" /> - [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5218818/ (Full Text)]
*2016, Mortality of people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a retrospective cohort study in England and Wales from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Biomedical Research Centre (SLaM BRC) Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) Register - [http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2816%2900270-1/fulltext (Full text)]
::Criticism by [[James Coyne]]: [https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/02/16/bad-stats-non-sequitur-conclusions-in-lancet-chronic-fatigue-syndromesuicide-study/ Bad stats, non sequitur conclusions in Lancet chronic fatigue syndrome/suicide study.]<ref name="Coyne2019">{{Cite web | url = https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/02/16/bad-stats-non-sequitur-conclusions-in-lancet-chronic-fatigue-syndromesuicide-study/ | title = Bad stats, non sequitur conclusions in Lancet chronic fatigue syndrome/suicide study | last = Coyne | first = James C. | authorlink = James Coyne | date = Feb 16, 2016 | website = Quick Thoughts |language=en| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2019-03-06}}</ref>
*2015, Pathology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Pilot Study of Four Autopsy Cases<ref name="Pilot2015">O’Donovan, D., Harrower, T., Cader, S., Findley, L., Shepherd, C., Chaudhuri, A., ... & UK, E. H. (2010). [https://meassociation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Ros-Vallings-report.doc Pathology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Pilot Study of four autopsy cases]. In International Science Symposium 3-4–Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Queensland, Australia: Population Health and Neuroimmunology Unit, Bond University </ref> - [https://meassociation.org.uk/2011/01/pathology-of-mecfs-pilot-study-of-four-autopsy-reports/ (Full text)]
*2012, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and subsequent risk of cancer among elderly US adults<ref name="Chang2012">{{Cite journal|title=Chronic fatigue syndrome and subsequent risk of cancer among elderly US adults|date=2012-12-01|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/22648858/|journal=Cancer|volume=118|issue=23|pages=5929–5936|last=Chang|first=Cindy M.|author-link=|last2=Warren|first2=Joan L.|author-link2=|last3=Engels|first3=Eric A.|author-link3=|last4=|first4=|author-link4=|last5=|first5=|author-link5=|last6=|first6=|author-link6=|last7=|first7=|last8=|first8=|last9=|first9=|language=en|doi=10.1002/cncr.27612|pmc=PMC3434293|pmid=22648858|access-date=|quote=|via=}}</ref> - [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/22648858/ (Full text)]
*2010, Exploring the feasibility of establishing a disease-specific post-mortem tissue bank in the UK: a case study in ME/CFS<ref name="Lacerda2010">{{Cite journal|title=Exploring the feasibility of establishing a disease-specific post-mortem tissue bank in the UK: a case study in ME/CFS|date=2010-11-01|url=https://jcp.bmj.com/content/63/11/1032|journal=Journal of Clinical Pathology|volume=63|issue=11|pages=1032–1034|last=Lacerda|first=Eliana M.|author-link=Eliana Lacerda|last2=Nacul|first2=Luis|author-link2=Luis Nacul|last3=Pheby|first3=Derek|author-link3=Derek Pheby|last4=Shepherd|first4=Charles|author-link4=Charles Shepherd|last5=Spencer|first5=Peter|author-link5=|last6=|first6=|author-link6=|last7=|first7=|last8=|first8=|last9=|first9=|language=en|doi=10.1136/jcp.2010.082032|pmc=|pmid=20924033|access-date=|issn=0021-9746|quote=|via=}}</ref> - [http://jcp.bmj.com/content/63/11/1032.abstract?sid=1dcc758d-5e2b-4b22-af33-86ad715ff0f1 (Full text)]
*2009, Coenzyme Q10 deficiency in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is related to fatigue, autonomic and neurocognitive symptoms and is another risk factor explaining the early mortality in ME/CFS due to cardiovascular disorder<ref name="Maes2009">{{Cite journal|title=Coenzyme Q10 deficiency in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is related to fatigue, autonomic and neurocognitive symptoms and is another risk factor explaining the early mortality in ME/CFS due to cardiovascular disorder|date=2009|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20010505/|journal=Neuro Endocrinology Letters|volume=30|issue=4|pages=470–476|last=Maes|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Maes|last2=Mihaylova|first2=Ivanka|author-link2=|last3=Kubera|first3=Marta|author-link3=|last4=Uytterhoeven|first4=Marc|author-link4=|last5=Vrydags|first5=Nicolas|author-link5=|last6=Bosmans|first6=Eugene|author-link6=|last7=|first7=|last8=|first8=|last9=|first9=|doi=|pmc=|pmid=20010505|access-date=|issn=0172-780X|quote=|via=}}</ref> - [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20010505/ (Abstract)]
*2006, Causes of death among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome<ref name="Jason, Corradi, 2006" /> - [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6940506_Causes_of_Death_Among_Patients_With_Chronic_Fatigue_Syndrome (Full text)]
*2006, Mortality in a cohort of chronically fatigued patients<ref name="Smith, 2006" /> - [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16893495/ (Abstract)]

==Learn more==
*2012, [http://www.meassociation.org.uk/2012/08/update-on-the-mecfs-tissue-and-post-mortem-tissue-bank-me-association-24-august-2012/ Update on the ME/CFS Tissue and Post Mortem Tissue Bank] ([[ME Association]])
*2016, [http://www.meresearch.org.uk/news/mortality-in-mecfs/ Mortality in ME/CFS] ([[ME Research UK]])
*2016, [http://www.dailyrxnews.com/suicide-rates-among-those-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-could-increase-six-fold-kings-college-london Chronic Fatigue and Suicide: An Alarming Trend]

==See also==
*[[Severe and very severe ME]]
*[[List of deaths caused by myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome]]
*[[Suicide]]
*[[Medical neglect and abuse]]

==References==
<references>
<ref name="ONS2018">{{Cite web | url = https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/adhocs/008461mentionsofpostviralfatiguesyndromebenignmyalgicencephalomyelitisdeathsregisteredinenglandandwales2001to2016 | title = Mentions of postviral fatigue syndrome (benign myalgic encephalomyelitis), deaths registered in England and Wales, 2001 to 2016 - Office for National Statistics | website = ons.gov.uk|access-date=2019-03-06}}</ref>
<ref name="Jason, Corradi, 2006">{{Cite journal | last1 = Jason | first1 = LA | author-link1 = Leonard Jason | last2 =Corradi | first2 = K | author-link2 =K Corradi | last3 = Gress | first3 = S | author-link3 =S Gress | last4 = Williams | first4 = S | author-link4 =S Williams | last5 = Torres-Harding | first5 = S | author-link5 = Susan Torres-Harding | title = Causes of death among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome | journal =[[Health Care for Women International]] | volume = 27 | issue = 7 | page = 615-26 | date = 2006 | pmid = 16844674 | doi = | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16844674| pages=|quote=|via=}}</ref>
<ref name="McManimen2016">{{Cite journal | last1 = McManimen | first1 = Stephanie L. | author-link1 = Stephanie McManimen | last2 =Devendorf | first2 = Andrew R. | author-link2 =Andrew Devendorf | last3 = Brown | first3 = Abigail A. | author-link3 = Abigail Brown | last4 = Moore | first4 = Billie C. | author-link4 =Billie Moore | last5 = Moore | first5 = James H. | author-link5 = James Moore | last6 = Jason | first6 = Leonard A. | author-link6 = Leonard Jason | title = Mortality in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome | journal =Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior | volume = 4 | issue = 4 | page = 195-207 | date = 2016 | doi = 10.1080/21641846.2016.1236588 | url=https://doi.org/10.1080%2F21641846.2016.1236588| pages=|quote=|via=}}</ref>
<ref name="Smith, 2006">{{Cite journal | last1 = Smith | first1 = WR | author-link1 = | last2 =Noonan | first2 = C | author-link2 = | last3 = Buchwald | first3 = D | author-link3 = Dedra Buchwald | title = Mortality in a cohort of chronically fatigued patients | journal = Psychological Medicine | volume = 36 | issue = 9 | page = 1301-6 | date = 2006 | pmid = 16893495 | doi = 10.1017/S0033291706007975 }}</ref>
</references>
[[Category:Core topics]]
[[Category:Epidemiology]]

File:Deaths caused by MECFS England Wales 2001 2016 year of death.png

2026-04-19T17:32:47Z

Tobiwankenobi:==== Title: (or description) ==== Deaths partly or fully caused by ME/CFS in England and Wales (2001–2016): year of death. Infographic showing the yearly number of deaths across the period 2001 to 2016. ==== Author: (or citation) ==== Tobiwankenobi. Own infographic created for MEpedia. ==== Source: (e.g. internet address) ==== https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/adhocs/008461mentionsofpostviralfatiguesyndromebenignmyalgicencephalomyelitisde...

== Summary ==
==== Title: (or description) ====

Deaths partly or fully caused by ME/CFS in England and Wales (2001–2016): year of death. Infographic showing the yearly number of deaths across the period 2001 to 2016.

==== Author: (or citation) ====

Tobiwankenobi. Own infographic created for MEpedia.

==== Source: (e.g. internet address) ====

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/adhocs/008461mentionsofpostviralfatiguesyndromebenignmyalgicencephalomyelitisdeathsregisteredinenglandandwales2001to2016

==== Other information: ====

Based on data from the Office for National Statistics: "Mentions of postviral fatigue syndrome (benign myalgic encephalomyelitis), deaths registered in England and Wales, 2001 to 2016."
This is an original infographic created for MEpedia from source data, not a copy of an existing chart.
Generated with AI assistance and manually checked for wording and numeric accuracy.
== Licensing ==
{{CC-by-sa-3.0}}

File:Deaths caused by MECFS England Wales 2001 2016 age at death.png

2026-04-19T17:25:55Z

Tobiwankenobi:==== Title: (or description) ==== Deaths partly or fully caused by ME/CFS in England and Wales (2001–2016): age at death. Infographic showing the distribution of deaths by age group. ==== Author: (or citation) ==== Tobiwankenobi. Own infographic created for MEpedia. ==== Source: (e.g. internet address) ==== https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/adhocs/008461mentionsofpostviralfatiguesyndromebenignmyalgicencephalomyelitisdeathsregisteredinengl...

== Summary ==
==== Title: (or description) ====

Deaths partly or fully caused by ME/CFS in England and Wales (2001–2016): age at death. Infographic showing the distribution of deaths by age group.

==== Author: (or citation) ====

Tobiwankenobi. Own infographic created for MEpedia.

==== Source: (e.g. internet address) ====

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/adhocs/008461mentionsofpostviralfatiguesyndromebenignmyalgicencephalomyelitisdeathsregisteredinenglandandwales2001to2016

==== Other information: ====

Based on data from the Office for National Statistics: "Mentions of postviral fatigue syndrome (benign myalgic encephalomyelitis), deaths registered in England and Wales, 2001 to 2016."
This is an original infographic created for MEpedia from source data, not a copy of an existing chart.
Generated with AI assistance and manually checked for wording and numeric accuracy.
== Licensing ==
{{CC-by-sa-3.0}}

File:Causes of death in MECFS vs US average 2014.png

2026-04-19T16:52:40Z

Tobiwankenobi:Tobiwankenobi uploaded a new version of File:Causes of death in MECFS vs US average 2014.png

== Summary ==
==== Title: (or description) ====

Causes of death in ME/CFS vs U.S. average (2014). Infographic based on mortality data comparing ME/CFS and U.S. average age at death across selected categories.

==== Author: (or citation) ====

Tobiwankenobi. Own infographic created for MEpedia.

==== Source: (e.g. internet address) ====

https://doi.org/10.1080/21641846.2016.1236588

==== Other information: ====

Based on data from: McManimen SL, Devendorf AR, Brown AA, Moore BC, Moore JH, Jason LA. "Mortality in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome." Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior. 2016;4(4):195–207.
This is an original infographic created for MEpedia from published source data, not a copy of the original journal figure.
Generated with AI assistance and manually checked for wording and numeric accuracy.
== Licensing ==
{{CC-by-sa-3.0}}

File:Causes of death in MECFS vs US average 2014.png

2026-04-19T16:31:50Z

Tobiwankenobi:==== Title: (or description) ==== Causes of death in ME/CFS vs U.S. average (2014). Infographic based on mortality data comparing ME/CFS and U.S. average age at death across selected categories. ==== Author: (or citation) ==== Tobiwankenobi. Own infographic created for MEpedia. ==== Source: (e.g. internet address) ==== https://doi.org/10.1080/21641846.2016.1236588 ==== Other information: ==== Based on data from: McManimen SL, Devendorf AR, Brown AA, Moore BC, Moore JH, Jason LA. "Morta...