A hierarchical logistic regression predicting rapid respiratory rates from post-exertional malaise

ABSTRACT

Background

Past research has found high rates of hyperventilation in patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), but hyperventilation can be influenced by psychological factors. Clinical respiratory rates have been less frequently assessed.

Aim

This study aimed to identify the predictors of rapid respiratory rates in patients referred an outpatient clinic specializing in ME/CFS.

Methods

Adults (n = 216) referred to an outpatient clinic specializing in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) participated in a two-day cardiopulmonary exercise test. As part of that evaluation, subjects had resting respiratory rates measured on two consecutive days. The current study used questionnaires to assess the relationship between tachypnea (rapid respiratory rates) and a variety of domains including post-exertional malaise (PEM), a common complaint in patients with ME/CFS, and psychiatric/somatic symptoms, using hierarchical logistic regression analysis.

Results

PEM was a significant predictor of tachypnea, while psychological/somatic assessments and sedentary behaviors were not significantly predictive of tachypnea.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that respiratory rate may be useful as an objective clinical metric of PEM, and potentially ME/CFS.

KEYWORDS:

• Post-exertional malaise
• tachypnea
• somatization
• respiratory rate

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This clinical research study was supported by the National Institutes of Health [grant number 1R01AI105781-01A1].

Notes on contributors

Joseph Cotler

Joseph Cotler is a project director of ME/CFS research at the Center for Community Research at DePaul university. He has been conducting research on ME/CFS since 2018.

Ben Z. Katz

Dr Ben Z. Katz is a Professor of Pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and an Attending Physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. He has been studying chronic fatigue syndrome with the group from DePaul since 2002.

Corine Reurts-Post

Corine Reurts-Post is a doctor’s research assistant at the CVS/ME Medisch Centrum in Amsterdam, specializing in the treatment of patients with chronic fatigue.

Ruud Vermeulen

Ruud Vermeulen heads the Research department and the research and treatment of chronic fatigue and exercise physiology at the CVS/ME Medisch Centrum.

Leonard A. Jason

Leonard A. Jason has been the principle investigator of ME/CFS research at DePaul university and the Center for Community Research for 25 years.