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Recovery from chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review-heterogeneity of definition limits study comparison

Yasmin Moore1, Teona Serafimova1, Nina Anderson1,2

  • 1Centre for Academic Child Health, University of Bristol Faculty of Health Sciences, Bristol, UK.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|April 13, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Recovery definitions for pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) vary widely. A consensus definition, prioritizing the child's perspective, is needed for consistent research and improved understanding of pediatric CFS/ME recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric health
  • Chronic illness research
  • Systematic reviews

Background:

  • Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) significantly impacts children's quality of life.
  • Understanding recovery in pediatric CFS/ME is crucial but currently limited.
  • This study addresses the lack of clarity surrounding recovery definitions, rates, and timelines in pediatric CFS/ME.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and describe definitions of recovery in pediatric CFS/ME.
  • To determine the reported rates of recovery in pediatric CFS/ME.
  • To analyze the time taken for recovery in pediatric CFS/ME.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review was conducted searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, and Cochrane Library (1994-2018).
  • Inclusion criteria focused on clinical trials and observational studies of participants under 19 with CFS/ME in Western healthcare systems.
  • Studies were included if they reported a measure of recovery and the time to recovery.

Main Results:

  • Twelve papers (10 studies) involving 826 pediatric patients were analyzed.
  • Recovery rates varied dramatically, from 4.5% to 83%, using eleven distinct definitions.
  • Commonly used outcomes included school attendance, fatigue, and physical functioning, with few incorporating patient-reported measures.

Conclusions:

  • Heterogeneous definitions of recovery in pediatric CFS/ME hinder meaningful comparisons between studies.
  • A consensus definition for pediatric CFS/ME recovery is necessary for future research.
  • Recovery should ideally be defined from the child's perspective using self-reported measures.
Abstract

Keywords:
adolescent healthoccupational therapy

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