title: Stressful Events in the Onset of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a complex and multifactorial disease. Stressful situations experienced could be related to the presentation of the disease. Few studies have determined which factors could trigger CFS. The main objective of this study was to explore the stressful situations which can be associated with CFS presentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective observational case-control study with CFS diagnosed patients according to the Fukuda's criteria. Controls were matched to cases by sex, age and educational level with a 1:1 ratio. Participants aged between 18 and 75 years from the province of Lleida. Information was obtained through personal questionnaires. The measure of association was the odds ratio.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 77 cases and 77 controls were included. Association found between stressful life events and presentation of disease were pregnancy ORa=31.7 (CI95%:2.2-456.7), spousal abuse ORa= 10.2 (CI95%:1.2-88.4) and mobbing ORa=6.9 (CI95%:1.3-36.9), eating disorders=7.5 (CI95%:1.3-42.1), car accident ORa=5.5 (CI95%:1.7-17 9), economic problems ORa=5.1 (CI95%:2.1-12.6) and changes in sleep habits ORa=2.8 (CI95%:1.1-7.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stressful life events as pregnancy, spousal abuse, mobbing, eating disorders, car accident, economic problems and changes in sleep habits felt by those affected must be taken into consideration when compiling background information related to the onset of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Adequate identification of these stressful life events in risk people could contribute to early diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Atención Primaria 1er de Maig. Institut Català de la Salut. Lleida, España igimeno.lleida.ics@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Iraida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gimeno Pi
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Enfermería y Fisioterapia. Universidad de Lleida, Lleida. España.
authors.forename: M Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Guitard Sein-Echaluce
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Reumatología. Hospital Universitario Santa María. Lleida. España.
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosselló Aubach
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Vigilancia Epidemiológica. Departamento de Salud. Lleida. España.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torres Puig-Gros
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Fatiga Crónica. Hospital Clínic. Universidad de Barcelona. España.
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández Solà
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Accidents; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; Dyssomnias; Early Diagnosis; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Logistic Regression; Poverty; Precipitating factors; Pregnancy; Spain; Spouse Abuse; Stressful events