Prevalence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Within Families of CFS Patients

[Guest guest]

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Prevalence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Within Families

of CFS Patients

Journal: Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ISSN: 1057-3321), Volume: 13

Issue: 1 Page Range: 3-13 [2006]

Authors: Rosemary A. Underhill MB, BS, MRCOG, FRCSE, Ruth L. O'Gorman

The prevalence of CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and chronic fatigue were

investigated in family members of CFS patients using a questionnaire-based

study.

Significant differences were seen between the prevalence of CFS in all

groups of family members relative to the published community prevalence

of 0.422%, (spouses/partners: 3.2%, p < 0.001; offspring: 5.1%,

p < .001; parents and siblings: 1.1%, p < 0.02; second and third degree

blood relatives 0.8%, p < 0.02.)

The prevalence of CFS was higher in genetically unrelated household

contacts and in nonresident genetic relatives than in the community,

indicating that both household contact and genetic relationship are risk

factors for CFS.

Keywords: Chronic fatigue syndrome and epidemiology, family prevalence,

infectious agent, genetic susceptibility

The full text of this article is available for a fee at

https://www.haworthpress.com/store/Toc_views.asp?sid=5HFH7RAN9VTH9KJJUF7JC44

P81PP32S0 & TOCName=J092v13n01%5FTOC & desc=Volume%3A%2013%20Issue%3A%201