Table 3.
Significantly different symptoms (N=113)
| CFS n=74 M (SD) |
ME-ICC n=39 M (SD) |
Sig. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-exertional malaise | 55.58 (25.91) | 70.07 (20.70) | .004 |
| Neurological Impairments | |||
| Neurocognitive Impairments | |||
| Memory/concentration problems | 45.69 (26.19) | 59.23 (23.71) | .01 |
| Slowness of thought | 40.27 (23.49) | 59.39 (24.03) | .001 |
| Absent mindedness | 39.36 (24.61) | 51.66 (23.01) | .02 |
| Confusion/disorientation | 26.63 (21.29) | 46.98 (25.15) | .001 |
| Difficulty reasoning | 25.85 (19.43) | 41.82 (25.06) | .01 |
| Forgetting what you’re trying to say | 36.16 (22.87) | 53.15 (22.62) | .001 |
| Difficulty finding the right word | 37.27 (20.14) | 53.15 (22.62) | .01 |
| Difficulty comprehending information | 28.59 (21.12) | 45.47 (21.74) | .002 |
| Need to focus on one thing at a time | 39.23 (29.73) | 61.65 (21.84) | <.001 |
| Frequently lose train of thought | 34.40 (26.29) | 53.28 (21.57) | .001 |
| Trouble expressing thoughts | 27.00 (19.19) | 48.03 (22.35) | <.001 |
| Difficulty retaining information | 35.26 (22.35) | 56.80 (23.38) | <.001 |
| Difficulty recalling information | 35.64 (23.98) | 57.70 (22.97) | <.001 |
| Put words/numbers in the wrong order | 29.40 (19.65) | 40.82 (21.55) | .04 |
| Slow to react | 26.95 (20.97) | 48.95 (16.82) | <.001 |
| Attention deficit | 35.41 (22.78) | 48.88 (24.24) | .05 |
| Poor hand-eye coordination | 27.32 (22.79) | 44.40 (25.00) | .02 |
| Pain | |||
| Muscle pain | 42.47 (27.89) | 63.44 (30.40) | <.001 |
| Pain in multiple joints | 25.31 (27.63) | 58.89 (28.59) | <.001 |
| Headaches | 31.25 (25.99) | 43.63 (28.18) | .02 |
| Eye pain | 27.17 (19.12) | 45.88 (29.52) | .03 |
| Chest pain | 19.70 (14.20) | 31.19 (18.32) | .04 |
| Sleep Disturbance | |||
| Unrefreshing sleep | 64.66 (27.97) | 83.62 (17.73) | <.001 |
| Need to nap during each day | 48.19 (28.09) | 62.22 (24.53) | .02 |
| Difficulty falling asleep | 46.48 (34.54) | 64.68 (29.60) | .02 |
| Difficulty staying asleep | 52.32 (31.17) | 66.03 (26.49) | .04 |
| Neurosensory, Perceptual & Motor Disturbances | |||
| Muscle weakness | 29.55 (26.19) | 55.97 (30.33) | <.001 |
| Unsteady on feet | 24.60 (18.46) | 42.48 (26.66) | .001 |
| Legs weak | 37.68 (25.93) | 54.74 (25.76) | .01 |
| Arms weak | 38.78 (25.68) | 52.60 (26.57) | .03 |
| Neck weak | 29.40 (19.65) | 40.82 (21.55) | .04 |
| Immune, Gastrointestinal & Genitourinary Impairments | |||
| Flu-like Symptoms | |||
| Tender/sore lymph nodes | 10.34 (15.91) | 28.29 (27.63) | <.001 |
| Flu-like symptoms | 36.78 (23.55) | 56.71 (26.02) | .002 |
| Gastrointestinal tract | |||
| Gastrointestinal symptoms | 43.47 (29.21) | 61.22 (33.09) | .02 |
| Upset stomach | 29.82 (25.99) | 44.57 (26.43) | .02 |
| Nausea | 10.24 (16.94) | 24.98 (25.17) | <.001 |
| Frequent urination | 45.51 (33.66) | 63.87 (26.75) | .04 |
| Sensitivities | |||
| Sensitivity to alcohol | 12.26 (26.02) | 23.99 (35.62) | .05 |
| Energy Production/Transportation Impairments | |||
| Cardiovascular | |||
| Dizziness | 25.59 (18.43) | 43.13 (24.79) | .001 |
| Light headedness | 25.68 (18.64) | 39.64 (24.91) | .01 |
| Dizzy moving head | 25.72 (18.09) | 41.94 (29.44) | .05 |
| Loss of thermostatic stability | |||
| Fever and chills | 18.33 (24.59) | 29.29 (27.20) | .03 |
| Chilled or shivery | 25.74 (19.81) | 46.53 (24.10) | <.001 |
| Hot or cold spells | 30.65 (22.84) | 45.65 (23.87) | .01 |
| Feeling like you have a high temp. | 25.71 (17.66) | 44.42 (28.51) | .003 |
| Feeling like you have a low temp. | 20.67 (24.06) | 41.69 (29.30) | .004 |
| Affected by daily weather change | 48.29 (27.49) | 70.09 (21.92) | .001 |