Table 3.
Baseline group characteristics for in GWI (n=39), GWI subgroup with PEM endorsement (GWI+PEM; n=18), and healthy controls (n=28) - CDC Symptom Inventory
| CDC Symptom InventoryA | GWI (n=39) | GWI+PEM (n=18) | CO (n=28) | GWI vs. CO | GWI+PEM vs. CO | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean | SD | Mean | SD | Mean | SD | ES | 95% Cl | ES | 95% Cl | |
| 1. Sore throat | 1.00 | 1.81 | 1.50 | 2.33 | 0.36 | 0.73 | 0.43 | −0.06, 0.92 | 0.72 | 0.11, 1.33 |
| 2. Tender lymph nodes or swollen glands | 0.62 | 1.44 | 0.78 | 1.52 | 0.11 | 0.32 | 0.45 | −0.04, 0.94 | 0.68 | 0.07, 1.28 |
| 3. Diarrhea | 2.95 | 3.27 | 2.67 | 2.66 | 0.75 | 1.51 | 0.81 | 0.31, 1.32 | 0.93 | 0.31, 1.55 |
| 4. Unusually fatigued or unwell for at least one day after exerting yourself in any way | 4.64 | 3.64 | 5.56 | 3.42 | 0.61 | 1.50 | 1.35 | 0.82, 1.89 | 2.01 | 1.29, 2.73 |
| 5. Muscle aches or pains | 4.82 | 3.63 | 5.17 | 3.26 | 1.93 | 2.42 | 0.90 | 0.39, 1.41 | 1.15 | 0.51, 1.79 |
| 6. Pain in several joints | 5.03 | 3.54 | 5.72 | 3.16 | 1.50 | 2.53 | 1.10 | 0.58, 1.62 | 1.49 | 0.82, 2.15 |
| 7. Fever | 0.08 | 0.27 | 0.11 | 0.32 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.38 | −0.11, 0.87 | 0.54 | −0.06, 1.14 |
| 8. Chills | 1.33 | 1.74 | 1.78 | 1.83 | 0.32 | 0.86 | 0.69 | 0.19, 1.19 | 1.08 | 0.45, 1.72 |
| 9. Unrefreshing sleep | 6.46 | 3.38 | 6.78 | 3.08 | 1.18 | 2.06 | 1.80 | 1.23, 2.37 | 2.20 | 1.46, 2.95 |
| 10. Sleep problems | 7.13 | 3.50 | 7.67 | 2.91 | 2.39 | 2.89 | 1.44 | 0.89, 1.98 | 1.79 | 1.10, 2.49 |
| 11. Headaches | 2.87 | 2.92 | 3.11 | 3.22 | 0.86 | 1.41 | 0.82 | 0.32, 1.33 | 0.97 | 0.35, 1.59 |
| 12. Forgetfulness or memory problems | 3.72 | 3.98 | 3.89 | 3.63 | 0.68 | 1.89 | 0.92 | 0.41, 1.43 | 1.17 | 0.53, 1.81 |
| 13. Difficulty thinking or concentrating | 4.26 | 4.29 | 4.50 | 4.41 | 1.14 | 2.75 | 0.83 | 0.32, 1.33 | 0.95 | 0.33, 1.57 |
| 14. Nausea | 0.85 | 1.46 | 1.06 | 1.70 | 0.11 | 0.42 | 0.64 | 0.14, 1.13 | 0.85 | 0.23, 1.46 |
| 15. Stomach or abdominal pain | 2.21 | 3.25 | 3.28 | 3.23 | 0.39 | 0.69 | 0.71 | 0.21, 1.21 | 1.37 | 0.71, 2.02 |
| 16. Sinus or nasal problems | 2.46 | 3.14 | 2.61 | 3.18 | 1.18 | 2.80 | 0.42 | −0.07, 0.91 | 0.48 | −0.12, 1.08 |
| 17. Shortness of breath | 1.49 | 1.93 | 2.00 | 1.88 | 0.07 | 0.38 | 0.94 | 0.43, 1.45 | 1.58 | 0.90, 2.25 |
| 18. Eyes been sensitive to light | 2.10 | 3.09 | 2.39 | 3.62 | 0.64 | 1.97 | 0.54 | 0.05, 1.03 | 0.63 | 0.03, 1.24 |
| 19. Depressed | 3.23 | 3.84 | 3.78 | 3.90 | 0.85 | 1.92 | 0.74 | 0.23, 1.24 | 1.00 | 0.37, 1.63 |
A
The instructional set for the CDC Symptom inventory asked respondents to report symptoms that had experienced “over the past month”