title: A comparison of health status in patients meeting alternative definitions for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several diagnostic definitions are available for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) that varies significantly in their symptom criteria. This pilot study was conducted to determine whether simple biological and clinical measures differed between CFS/ME patients meeting the 1994 Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria, the International Consensus Criteria (ICC), as well as healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 45 CFS/ME patients and 30 healthy controls from the South East Queensland region of Australia provided a blood sample, reported on their current symptoms, as well as aspects of their physical and social health using the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the World Health Organisation Disability Adjustment Schedule 2.0 (WHO DAS 2.0). Differences were examined using independent sample t-testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients fulfilling the ICC definition reported significantly lower scores (p < 0.05) for physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain, and social functioning than those that only fulfilled the 1994 CDC definition. ICC patients reported significantly greater (p < 0.05) disability across all domains of the WHO DAS 2.0.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary findings suggest that the ICC identifies a distinct subgroup found within patients complying with the 1994 CDC definition, with more severe impairment to their physical and social functioning.
authors.affiliation: Griffith Health Institute, School of Medical Sciences, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Parklands, QLD 4222, Australia. samantha.johnston3@griffithuni.edu.au.
authors.forename: Samantha C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Ekua W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Brenu
authors.forename: Sharni L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hardcastle
authors.forename: Teilah K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Huth
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Staines
authors.forename: Sonya M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Marshall-Gradisnik
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult