Table 1.

Demographic characteristics of the ME/CFS cases and their carers

			Case definition
Demographic variables	ME/CFS cases		CDC-1994	Canadian	ECD	Carers
	n	%	n	n	n	n	%
Gender
• Male	37	21.8	35	20	7	25	56.8
• Female	133	78.2	131	76	15	19	43.2
	170	100.0	166	96	22	44	100.0
Age group
• 18-24	4	2.4	4	1	2	2	4.5
• 25-34	19	11.2	19	13	2	7	15.9
• 35-44	34	20.0	33	22	4	17	38.6
• 45-54	56	32.9	55	34	7	11	25.0
• 55-64	57	33.5	55	26	7	7	15.9
	170	100.0	166	96	22	44	100.0
Ethnicity
• White British	157	92.9	154	92	19	41	97.6
• Other	12	7.1	11	3	3	1	2.4
	169	100.0	165	95	22	42	100.0
Carers' relationship with ME/CFS case
• Husband/wife/
partner			35	25	4	35	81.4
• Parent/children			7	6		7	16.3
• Other			1	1		1	2.3
			43	32	4	43	100.0