Table 1.
Comparison of the study groups.
| Characteristics | CONTROLS (n = 24) | ME/CFS (n = 24) | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 46.1 ± 10.7 | 46.3 ± 10.9 | 0.92 |
| Female | 19 (79%) | 19 (79%) | 1 |
| Caucasian Race | 24 | 24 | 1 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 25.5 ± 2.6 | 23.8 ± 3.5 | 0.03 |
| BSA (m2) | 1.85 ± 0.17 | 1.77 ± 0.20 | 0.03 |
| MFI-20 | 40 ± 12 | 79 ± 9 | <0.01 |
| sBP (mmHg) | 119 ± 12 | 118 ± 8 | 0.81 |
| Heart rate (bpm) | 64.5 ± 10.8 | 66.3 ± 11.0 | 0.52 |
| Biochemistry | |||
| Sodium (mmol/L) | 143.8 ± 2.5 | 144.0 ± 2.2 | 0.78 |
| Potassium (mmol/L) | 4.36 ± 0.40 | 4.40 ± 0.42 | 0.72 |
| HCO2 (mmol/L) | 22.4 ± 1.9 | 23.0 ± 2.0 | 0.35 |
| Chloride (mmol/L | 104.1 ± 1.8 | 104.0 ± 2.1 | 0.98 |
| Urea (mmol/L) | 12.7 ± 4.1 | 12.4 ± 5.2 | 0.80 |
| Creatinine (µmol/L) | 76 ± 15 | 75 ± 12 | 0.87 |
| Calcium (mgl/dL) | 9.47 ± 0.34 | 9.45 ± 0.35 | 0.91 |
| Fasting Glucose (mmol/L) | 4.8 ± 0.4 | 4.9 ± 0.6 | 0.40 |
| TC/HDL | 3.5 ± 0.9 | 3.6 ± 1.0 | 0.75 |
| TSH (mIU/L) | 1.9 ± 1.3 | 1.8 ± 1.8 | 0.75 |
| hs-CRP (mg/L) | 2.7 ± 3.6 | 1.2 ± 1.1 | 0.10 |
BMI = body mass index; BSA = body surface area; ME/CFS = Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; hs-CRP – highly sensitive CRP, MFI – Multi dimensional fatigue inventory; SED = sedentary; sBP = systolic blood pressure; TSH – thyroid stimulating hormone; TC – Total cholesterol; HDL – High density lipoprotein.