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ABSTRACT
Aim: To compare disease impact on functioning in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods: Fifty-four patients with CFS after giardiasis, 43 patients with moderate MS and 96 healthy controls were included. Comprehensive evaluation included the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and these neuropsychological tests: Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), Selective Reminding Test and Symbol Digit Modalities Test. Long-term sickness disability was also registered.
Results: Eighteen CFS patients were partly employed and among MS patients eight were partly and six fully employed. CFS and MS patients scored worse on the FSS and all subscores of SF-36 than controls (all p < .05). CFS patients scored worse (all p < .01) than patients with MS on these measurers: FSS, vitality subscale of the SF-36 and the HADS, whereas MS patients scored worse (p < .01) than CFS patients on most neuropsychological tests. Long-term sickness disability in CFS was associated with short illness duration, and the SF-36 physical function and general health subscales, whereas long-term sickness disability in MS was associated with FSS, PASAT, Symbol Digit Modalities, and the SF-36 physical function, bodily pain, role limitations due to physical problems, and social functioning subscales (all p ≤ .05).
Conclusion: The main self-reported disabilities in CFS patients were associated with severe fatigue, low physical function and low social functioning, whereas disability in MS patients seems more multifactorial. Level of unemployment was higher in CFS patients compared to MS patients.
Acknowledgements
MN collected data and participated in the writing process of the paper. HNaess did all analyses and participated in the writing process of the paper. KL collected data and participated in the writing process of the paper. NF collected data and participated in the writing process of the paper. HNyland originated the idea of the study, collected data and participated in the writing process of the paper.
Consent to publish
Written consent was obtained from all participants. Written consent included consent to publish.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
The study is approved by the local ethics committee (REK Vest).
Availability of data and materials
The data are available from the corresponding author on request.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Morten Nyland
Morten Nyland is a sociologist employed by the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. His work task includes work-related rehabilitation programs.
Halvor Naess
Halvor Naess Professor at University of Bergen, Neurologist. He has done clinical research on several neurological topics including stroke and fatigue syndromes.
Kirsten Lode
Kirsten Lode Research nurse with PhD employed by Stavanger University Hospital. Research includes how coping capacity influences on prognosis in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Nanna Figved
Nanna Figved Research nurse with PhD employed by Stavanger University Hospital. She has specialized on research dealing with coping and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Harald Nyland
Harald Nyland Professor emeritus. Retired neurologist who has done extensive research on multiple sclerosis. In 1990 he established the CFS outclinic at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway.