title: [Chronic fatigue syndrome: study of a consecutive series of 824 cases assessed in two specialized units].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disabling disorder. Few studies are available in our area on the prevalence and characteristics of CFS. Therefore, we carried out a study of a consecutive series of 824 cases diagnosed in two specialized units.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated all of the CFS patients seen from January 2008 to June 2010. We analyzed social and demographic data, employment status, time of clinical evolution, trigger factors and onset, Fukuda and Canadian criteria, associated comorbidities and treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 824 patients were included, 748 (91%) woman, mean age 48±9 years. Average age of onset of symptoms was 35±11 years, time to diagnosis 108±88 month. A precipitating factor was identified in 481 (58%) patients, the onset was gradual in 517 (63%) and 515 (62.5%) were not employed. The most outstanding diagnostic criteria of Fukuda were prolonged generalized fatigue after exercise, sleep disturbance and impairments in concentration and short-term memory. The different groups of symptoms defined by the Canadian consensus showed that CFS is a homogeneous entity. Accompanying comorbidity phenomena were anxiety 691 (83%), sicca syndrome 678 (82%), fibromyalgia 450 (55%). A total of 63% of patients (520) received pharmacological treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CFS is an illness that preferentially affects young women and results in employment absenteeism. The most relevant clinical features were prolonged generalized fatigue after exercise, neurocognitive impairment and sleep disturbance. In the evaluation of the patient, it is very important to apply the Canadian criteria and to assess comorbidity.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Urgencias, Hospital General Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, España. evruiz@vhebron.net
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alegre
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: García Quintana
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aliste
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blázquez
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fernández de Sevilla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult