Table 2.
Comparison of select characteristics in women with CFS by subgroup—with and without endometriosis comorbidity.
 |
All CFS (n = 36) | CFS+EM (n = 13) | CFS-only (n = 23) | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 50.9 (1.5) | 54.0 (1.8) | 49.1 (2.1) | 0.39 |
| BMI | 29.5 (0.7) | 28.6 (1.0) | 30.0 (1.0) | 0.29 |
| Mean duration of CFS illness (years) | 17.0 (2.7) | 16.8 (3.3) | 17.1 (2.3) | 0.93 |
| Onset of CFS illness(a) | 0.73 | |||
| Sudden, n (%) | 6 (16.7%) | 2 (15.4%) | 4 (17.4%) | |
| Gradual, n (%) | 29 (80.6%) | 11 (84.6%) | 18 (78.3%) | |
| Missing, n (%) | 1 (2.7%) | — | 1 (4.3%) | |
| Presence of post-exertional malaise | 0.28 | |||
| Yes, n (%) | 30 (83.3%) | 12 (92.3%) | 18 (78.3%) | |
| No, n (%) | 6 (16.7%) | 1 (7.7%) | 5 (21.7%) | |
| SF-36 Subscales (Range 0–100)(b) | ||||
| General health | 51.6 (3.5) | 53.9 (5.7) | 50.3 (4.6) | 0.64 |
| Mental health | 66.0 (3.3) | 68.6 (6.5) | 64.5 (3.6) | 0.55 |
| Physical functioning | 50.4 (3.6) | 46.9 (5.4) | 52.4 (4.7) | 0.47 |
| Role emotional | 55.6 (7.0) | 64.1 (11.6) | 50.7 (8.9) | 0.37 |
| Role physical | 18.8 (5.0) | 11.5 (7.8) | 22.8 (6.5) | 0.29 |
| Social functioning | 49.0 (3.9) | 49.0 (7.9) | 48.9 (4.2) | 0.99 |
| Vitality | 17.8 (2.1) | 19.6 (4.0) | 16.7 (2.3) | 0.51 |
| Bodily pain | 40.1 (2.7) | 37.0 (3.8) | 41.8 (3.7) | 0.40 |
| MFI-20 Subscales (Range 4–20)(c) | ||||
| General fatigue | 17.7 (0.3) | 17.1 (0.4) | 17.9 (0.4) | 0.74 |
| Physical fatigue | 14.4 (0.5) | 13.8 (0.9) | 14.7 (0.6) | 0.44 |
| Mental fatigue | 14.1 (0.7) | 12.8 (1.2) | 14.9 (0.8) | 0.17 |
| Reduced activity | 14.8 (0.6) | 14.5 (0.8) | 15.0 (0.8) | 0.67 |
| Reduced motivation | 12.3 (0.7) | 12.2 (1.1) | 12.3 (0.9) | 0.98 |
| CDC Symptom Inventory | ||||
| Number of CFS symptoms | 5.9 (0.2) | 6.8 (0.3) | 5.5 (0.3) | 0.02 |
| Symptom Inventory Score | 46.0 (3.4) | 51.4 (5.7) | 43.0 (4.3) | 0.24 |
| Gynecologic Variables | ||||
| Pelvic pain(d), n (%) | 8 (22.2%) | 6 (46.2%) | 2 (8.7%) | 0.02 |
| Hysterectomy, n (%) | 19 (52.8%) | 11 (84.6%) | 8 (34.8%) | <0.01 |
| Postmenopausal, n (%) | 25 (69.4%) | 12 (92.3%) | 13 (56.5%) | 0.03 |
| Mean age at menopause onset | 41.7 (2.3) (n = 20) | 36.4 (3.0) (n = 10) | 47.0 (2.7) (n = 10) | 0.03 |
| Hysterectomy in the subset of post-menopausal women only, n (%) | 19/25 (76%) | 11/12 (91.7%) | 8/13 (61.5%) | 0.16 |
CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome; EM, endometriosis; CFS+EM, women who had CFS and endometriosis; CFS-only, women who had CFS but not endometriosis
Values are shown as mean (SEM, standard error of the mean) or number (percentage), n (%).
(a)
One missing response in the CFS-only group.
(b)
Lower score indicates worse health status/more disability.
(c)
Higher score indicates more fatigue.
(d)
Non-menstrual, chronic pelvic or lower abdominal pain.