Individuals experiencing chronic fatigue often find themselves confined to their beds for days after completing even the simplest everyday tasks. The severity of this debilitating condition is underscored by the fact that over 3 million Americans grapple with its profound impact, as revealed by a recent analysis conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Chronic fatigue syndrome, a formidable and enduring illness characterized by an overwhelming sense of fatigue, appears to be more prevalent than previously thought. The CDC’s latest data, unveiled last week, suggests that this condition, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, affects approximately 3.3 million adults in the United States. This estimate is derived from information gathered through a comprehensive national survey conducted between 2021 and 2022, painting a more nuanced picture than an earlier study that had pegged the number between 836,000 and 2.5 million.
“Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex, multisystem illness characterized by activity-limiting fatigue, worsening of symptoms after activity, and other symptoms,” Elizabeth Unger, MD, chief of the CDC’s Chronic Viral Diseases Branch, and her coauthors had written. “It affects all age, sex, and racial and ethnic groups and costs the U.S. economy about $18 to $51 billion annually.”
The latest research underscores a direct correlation between age and the likelihood of developing ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). The study reveals that the probability of acquiring ME/CFS increases with age, peaking between the ages of 50 and 69, and subsequently decreases beyond that age range.
While the syndrome is most prevalent among white adults, affecting 1.5 percent of this demographic, it also impacts non-Hispanic Black adults (1.2 percent), Hispanic individuals (0.8 percent), and Asian populations (0.7 percent). Notably, the risk for women is approximately double that of men.
Additionally, the research highlights a socio-economic dimension to ME/CFS prevalence. Disease rates exhibit a decline with higher family income and as residents move from rural to more metropolitan areas. This implies that individuals in more affluent and urban settings may have a lower risk of developing ME/CFS.
These new findings challenge earlier assumptions that ME/CFS predominantly affects middle and upper-class white women. Instead, they emphasize the syndrome’s ability to affect a diverse range of individuals across different demographic categories, thereby broadening our understanding of its impact on various populations.
The CDC had noted that around 90 percent of people with ME/CFS have actually not been diagnosed, “especially among people from racial and ethnic minority groups.”
Partly, the increase in cases of chronic fatigue syndrome may be attributed to its overlapping debilitating symptoms with long COVID, such as enduring fatigue, cognitive issues, headaches, and disturbed sleep. Recent research has emphasized the striking similarity between the two conditions, with the majority of symptoms being nearly identical. However, decreased smell and taste, rash, and hair loss are more prevalent in long COVID when compared to chronic fatigue syndrome, as indicated by studies conducted earlier this year.
Challenging to Diagnose and Treat
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) continues to baffle experts in numerous aspects. Unfortunately, this condition is frequently misunderstood, and certain healthcare providers may not give it the seriousness it warrants, as noted by the CDC. Moreover, a majority of medical schools in the United States do not incorporate ME/CFS into their curriculum for physician training.
“Certainly a lot of patients have experienced dismissal or disregard, with some healthcare providers lumping it all into being psychological,” says Michael Zeineh, MD, an associate professor of radiology with Stanford Health Care in California, who has conducted research that explored brain structure differences in patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. “There’s a real syndrome going on here — we just don’t fully understand it.”
Although there are no specific blood tests or scans available for disease identification, the CDC has implemented measures to enhance awareness of the illness among healthcare professionals and the general public.
Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
As outlined in the comprehensive diagnostic criteria provided by the agency, the manifestations of chronic fatigue syndrome can differ among individuals and may encompass:
- Persistent fatigue lasting beyond six months
- Sleep that does not provide a sense of refreshment
- Pain in muscles or joints
- Episodes of dizziness
- Impaired cognitive function
- Exacerbation of symptoms following physical or mental exertion
The origin of the condition is still unclear. Mayo Clinic suggests that a variety of factors may contribute, including infections (resulting from diseases like Lyme disease or infectious mononucleosis), physical or emotional trauma, and issues related to the body’s conversion of food into energy.
For people who may have possible symptoms, Dr. Zeineh strongly advises them to discuss their health with a personal physician, and to possibly rule out other illnesses that could be behind these issues. “People have to make sure nothing else is causing their symptoms, such as sleep apnea or hypothyroidism,” he advised.
The CDC suggests that employing methods like deep breathing, muscle relaxation, massage, and engaging in movement therapies like stretching, yoga, and tai chi can potentially lead to symptom improvement. These approaches are known to alleviate stress and anxiety while fostering a sense of well-being, as stated by the health agency.
Zeineh, however, distinctly pointed out that there is no current cure or established treatment for it. “Some people have tried anti-inflammatory medications and anti-psychotic medications, but there is not a therapy of choice,” he said. “Researchers like myself are working to better understand the disease and find interventions but there has not been a lot of success.”
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