Table 4.

Healthcare utilisation per identification method

	Total cohort mean±SD	Method A mean±SD	Method B mean±SD	Method C mean±SD	Method D mean±SD	All methods combined mean±SD
Consult frequency (per year)	4.75±5.43	7.74±7.32	11.70±9.47	8.21±8.30	8.39±5.89	9.42±8.47
Lab tests (per year)	0.28±0.50	0.50 (0.56	0.69±0.88	0.51±0.68	0.43±0.56	0.57±0.75
Medications (per year)	1.82±1.88	2.65±2.12	3.64±2.70	2.81±2.17	2.62±1.78	3.10±2.48
Primary care referrals (per year)	0.09±0.15	0.14±0.19	0.17±0.21	0.15±0.20	0.17±0.19	0.15±0.20
Secondary care referrals (per year)	0.30±0.42	0.46±0.54	0.62±0.61	0.50±0.57	0.48±0.45	0.53±0.57

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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.