Table 2.

Number of patients with PSS and their demographics per identification method

	Total cohort n (%) or mean±SD	Method A n (%) or mean±SD	Method B n (%) or mean±SD	Method C n (%) or mean±SD	Method D n (%) or mean±SD	All methods combined n (%) or mean±SD
Patients	169 138 (100.0)	8407 (5.0)	11 893 (7.0)	5574 (3.3)	482 (0.3)	20 855 (12.3)
Female	89 432 (52.9)	6276 (74.7)	8020 (67.4)	4164 (74.7)	340 (70.5)	14 490 (69.5)
Age	51.4±16.4	48.6±15.0	57.6±18.2	49.6±14.6	42.6±12.0	53.6±17.4
Years enrolled	4.6±1.0	4.6±0.9	4.5±1.0	4.6±0.9	4.7±0.8	4.6±1.0

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Method A: patients with recorded FM, IBS and/or CFS based on ICPC-codes.

Method B: patients with at least six ICPC codes that correspond to the Robbins list in any 6-month period.

Method C: patients with reported PSS-related terminology.

Method D: patients with ≥20 points on the somatisation subscale of the 4DSQ.

CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome; 4DSQ, Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire; FM, fibromyalgia; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; ICPC, International Classification of Primary Care; PSS, persistent somatic symptoms.