TGI Friday! | Our weekly round-up of recently published research abstracts | 12 February 2016

From The Lancet, published online 9 February 2016 (full text available).

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

Dr Emmert Roberts, MRCP; Prof Simon Wessely, FMedSci; Prof Trudie Chalder, PhD; Dr Chin-Kuo Chang, PhD†; Prof Matthew Hotopf, PhD†;
†Authors contributed equally
Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, UK

Summary

BACKGROUND

Mortality associated with chronic fatigue syndrome is uncertain. We investigated mortality in individuals diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome in secondary and tertiary care using data from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Biomedical Research Centre (SLaM BRC) Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) register.

METHODS

We calculated standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for all-cause, suicide-specific, and cancer-specific mortality for a 7-year observation period using the number of deaths observed in SLaM records compared with age-specific and sex-specific mortality statistics for England and Wales. Study participants were included if they had had contact with the chronic fatigue service (referral, discharge, or case note entry) and received a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

FINDINGS

We identified 2147 cases of chronic fatigue syndrome from CRIS and 17 deaths from Jan 1, 2007, to Dec 31, 2013. 1533 patients were women of whom 11 died, and 614 were men of whom six died. There was no significant difference in age-standardised and sex-standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for all-cause mortality (SMR 1·14, 95% CI 0·65–1·85; p=0·67) or cancer-specific mortality (1·39, 0·60–2·73; p=0·45) in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome when compared with the general population in England and Wales. This remained the case when deaths from suicide were removed from the analysis. There was a significant increase in suicide-specific mortality (SMR 6·85, 95% CI 2·22–15·98; p=0·002).

INTERPRETATION

We did not note increased all-cause mortality in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, but our findings show a substantial increase in mortality from suicide. This highlights the need for clinicians to be aware of the increased risk of completed suicide and to assess suicidality adequately in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

FUNDING

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London.

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From Tiddskrift for Den norske legeforenig, English translation of Norwegian study, 9 February 2016.

Investigation of suspected chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy

J F Owe (1), H Næss(1), I O Gjerde(1), J E Bødtker(2),　O-B Tysnes (1)
1) Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway
2) Clinic of Psychosomatic Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway　

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Chronic fatigue is a frequently occurring problem in both the primary and specialist health services. The Department of Neurology at Haukeland University Hospital has established a standard assessment for patients referred with suspected CFS/ME. This study reports diagnoses and findings upon assessment, and considers the benefit of supplementary examinations.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Diagnoses and findings from examinations of 365 patients assessed for suspected CFS/ME are retrospectively reported.

RESULTS

A total of 48 patients (13.2 %) were diagnosed with CFS/ME, while a further 18 patients (4.9 %) were diagnosed with post-infectious fatigue. Mental and behavioural disorders were diagnosed in 169 patients (46.3 %), and these represented by far the largest group. Serious, but unrecognised somatic illness was discovered in two patients, while changes of uncertain significance were identified by MRI and lumbar puncture in a few patients.

INTERPRETATION

Fatigue is a frequently occurring symptom in the population. Thorough somatic and psychiatric investigation is necessary before referral to the specialist health services. Mental disorders and reactions to life crises are common and important differential diagnoses for CFS/ME. Long waiting times in the specialist health services may result in delayed diagnosis for these patients.

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