Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Facts:


“I split my clinical time between the two illnesses, and I can tell you if I had to choose between the two illnesses I would rather have H.I.V.” Dr. Nancy Klimas 2009

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is:

 Poorly Studied

Despite the million sufferers in the US, and approximately 25% rates of disability and high economic costs chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) ranks near the bottom in funding amongst the approximately 200 diseases and conditions the NIH funds.

A Serious Disorder

Center For Disease Control (CDC) studies indicate that chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients as a group have disability rates similar to people with multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease and other serious diseases.

Fairly Common

The Centers For Disease Control estimates from 1-4 million people in the U.S. have chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Greatly Under Diagnosed

The Centers for Disease Control estimates approximately 80% of chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) cases in the U.S. go undiagnosed.

Costly

The average annual costs per family, including financial losses due to unemployment, are about $25,000 a year.  Studies suggest that chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) costs the US economy about 20 billion dollars a year.

More Commonly Found in Women

Like other so-called ‘allied disorders’ such as Fibromygalia and irritable bowel syndrome (which also receive very low rates of funding), ME/CFS is most commonly found in women.

Currently Defined Using Symptoms and by Ruling Out Other Diseases

Besides exhaustion or fatigue chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients must display a distinct set of symptoms in order to have CFS.

Complex

Research studies indicate chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) affects many different systems across the body including the immune, endocrine and autonomic nervous systems.

A Chronic Disorder

While some patients do recover, there is no cure for CFS, and many remain ill.


 

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