Prevalent Causes of Death Linked to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating condition. The estimate of how many people are affected varies depending on the source. Researchers are studying various aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome but there have been relatively few studies looking at the cause of death of people with the condition.

Authors of one study, published in the journal Health Care for Women International (2006 Aug; 27(7):615-26), reviewed a memorial list of 166 people with chronic fatigue syndrome. The list was kept by the National CFIDS Foundation. Of the people on the list, there were three times more women than men. The most prevalent causes of death, accounting for nearly 60 percent of deaths of people on the list were:

• heart failure
• suicide
• cancer

It was also determined that the mean age of chronic fatigue syndrome patients who died from cancer or suicide was significantly younger than people dying from those causes within the general population.

Related Resources:

• What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
• Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• How is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosed?

~ By Carol & Richard Eustice, About.com Guides to Arthritis / Osteoarthritis