Table 1.
Demographics and scoring analysis of the ME/CFS cohort using the International Consensus Criteria (ICC) questionnaire. Both the ICC questionnaire and comorbidity results are self-reported by the ME/CFS participants. Score averages per ICC questionnaire section are given in bold face. Statistical significance was recorded at p < 0.05.
| Demographics | ||
| p value (parametric analysis) | 0.54 | |
| Age of control population (n = 15; 9 females; 6 males) | 45.7 ± 6.9 | |
| Age of ME/CFS population (n = 25; 20 females; 5 males) | 48.2 ± 14.1 | |
| Comorbidities of ME/CFS Population | ||
| Comorbidity | % Prevalence | |
| Gut Dysbiosis | 40% | |
| POTS | 16% | |
| Fibromyalgia | 16% | |
| Psoriasis | 16% | |
| Gingivitis/Periodontitis | 16% | |
| Hypercholesterolemia | 16% | |
| Hypertension | 16% | |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | 12% | |
| Cardiovascular Disease | 12% | |
| Orthostatic Hypotension | 4% | |
| Mast Cell Activation Syndrome | 4% | |
| Rosacea | 4% | |
| Dysautonomia | 4% | |
| ICC Questionnaire Results | ||
| Parameter | Average Score (out of 10) | % of Subjects Experiencing Severely (Score of 8–10) |
| 1. Post-Exertional Neuroimmune Exhaustion | 7.8 ± 1.6 | 60% |
| a. Marked, rapid physical and/or cognitive fatigability in response to exertion | 7.9 ± 1.6 | 64% |
| b. Post-exertional symptom exacerbation (worsening of other symptoms) | 7.8 ± 1.4 | 56% |
| c. Post-exertional exhaustion | 8.1 ± 1.3 | 64% |
| d. Recovery period is prolonged | 7.4 ± 2.0 | 48% |
| e. Low threshold of physical and mental fatigability (lack of stamina) | 8.1 ± 1.7 | 68% |
| 2. Neurological Impairments | 6.6 ± 2.6 | 44% |
| a. Difficulty processing information | 6.52 ± 2.00 | 32% |
| b. Short-term memory loss | 6.64 ± 2.04 | 44% |
| c. Headaches | 6.00 ± 3.27 | 40% |
| d. Significant pain (in muscles, tendons, abdomen, or chest) | 6.68 ± 2.84 | 52% |
| e. Disturbed sleep pattern (from the previous night, e.g., insomnia, sleeping most of the day and being awake most of the night) | 6.72 ± 2.82 | 48% |
| f. Unrefreshing sleep (from the previous night) | 7.92 ± 2.08 | 60% |
| g. Neurosensory and perceptual symptoms (e.g., inability to focus vision, sensitivity to light, noise, etc.) | 7.20± 1.87 | 56% |
| h. Motor symptoms (e.g., twitching, poor coordination) | 5.12 ± 2.65 | 16% |
| 3. Immuno, Gastrointestinal, and Genitourinary Impairments | 5.9 ± 2.7 | 35% |
| a. Flu-like symptoms (e.g., sore throat, sinusitis, enlarged or tender lymph nodes) | 5.48 ± 1.94 | 16% |
| b. Gastrointestinal tract symptoms (e.g., nausea, abdominal pain, bloating, irritable bowel) | 6.32 ± 2.66 | 44% |
| c. Genitourinary symptoms (e.g., urinary urgency, urinary frequency, nocturia or having to urinate two or more times a night) | 5.76 ± 2.96 | 32% |
| d. Sensitivities to food, medications, odors, or chemicals | 6.16 ± 3.05 | 48% |
| Energy Production/Transportation Impairments | 6.6 ± 2.6 | 45% |
| a. Cardiovascular symptoms (e.g., orthostatic intolerance, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome or POTS, palpitations, light-headedness/dizziness) | 7.00 ± 2.38 | 52% |
| b. Respiratory symptoms (e.g., air hunger, labored breathing, fatigue of chest wall muscles) | 5.64 ± 2.98 | 32% |
| c. Loss of thermostatic stability (e.g., subnormal body temperature, sweating episodes, recurrent feelings of feverishness, cold extremities) | 7.28 ± 1.54 | 52% |
| d. Intolerance of extremes of temperature | 6.44 ± 2.89 | 44% |
| Data are represented as mean ± standard deviation. | ||