Table 1 Subject characteristics

From: Heightened innate immunity may trigger chronic inflammation, fatigue and post-exertional malaise in ME/CFS

 

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Metabolomics & Truculture

Proteomics

Subject Characteristics

ME/CFS (n = 56)

HC (n = 52)

p-valued

ME/CFS (n = 36)

HC (n = 34)

p-valued

Sex

Female

37

37

0.718

24

25

0.715

Male

19

15

12

9

Age

Mean ± SDc

46.1 ± 12.8

47.8 ± 13.7

0.476

48.1 ± 13.1

49.9 ± 13.9

0.518

Median (Range: Min–Max)

46.3 (21.0–70.0)

50.5 (22.97–70.0)

50.1 (21.0–70.0)

51.0 (23.5–70.0)

Race and Ethnicity

White and not Hispanic

47

41

0.793

30

27

0.885

Hispanic

4

5

3

4

Not White and not Hispanic

5

6

3

3

Site of Collection

New York, NY

36

34

1.000

36

34

n/a

Palo Alto, CA

20

18

0

0

sr-IBS Comorbiditya

Yes

10

1

0.016

6

0

0.039

No

46

51

30

34

BMI

Mean ± SDc

25.3 ± 4.9

23.8 ± 4.1

0.112

25.1 ± 5.6

23.8 ± 4.6

0.456

Median (Range: Min–Max)

24.6 (17.4–38.7)

22.8 (17.2–33.1)

24.3 (17.4–38.7)

22.6 (17.2–33.1)

Duration of Illness

≥ 3 years

42

n/a

n/a

23

n/a

n/a

< 3 years

13

n/a

12

n/a

MFI Scalesb Mean Score ± SDc before exercise

General Fatigue

69.4 ± 12.0

19.0 ± 14.6

<0.001

70.6 ± 13.3

20.1 ± 14.9

<0.001

Mental Fatigue

74.0 ± 20.1

16.1 ± 14.3

<0.001

72.2 ± 20.2

15.6 ± 14.8

<0.001

Physical Fatigue

84.2 ± 17.4

11.7 ± 11.6

<0.001

83.6 ± 15.6

12.5 ± 11.7

<0.001

Reduced Activity

77.7 ± 23.1

12.1 ± 11.0

<0.001

74.5 ± 23.9

12.3 ± 10.2

<0.001

Reduced Motivation

46.9 ± 25.0

13.1 ± 13.7

<0.001

49.0 ± 23.5

11.9 ± 13.5

<0.001

MFI Scalesb Mean Score ± SDc 24 h after exercise

General Fatigue

69.6 ± 10.3

17.4 ± 15.5

<0.001

68.2 ± 11.4

17.9 ± 16.7

<0.001

Mental Fatigue

74.3 ± 21.5

15.1 ± 16.2

<0.001

72.5 ± 23.0

15.2 ± 17.1

<0.001

Physical Fatigue

84.8 ± 16.3

10.3 ± 11.7

<0.001

83.9 ± 15.6

11.0 ± 11.5

<0.001

Reduced Activity

78.9 ± 22.2

12.3 ± 11.5

<0.001

75.8 ± 22.7

13.4 ± 11.9

<0.001

Reduced Motivation

47.3 ± 25.7

10.8 ± 12.0

<0.001

51.2 ± 24.7

10.5 ± 11.5

<0.001

MFI Scalesb Mean Score ± SDc 48 h after exercise

General Fatigue

90.8 ± 13.3

17.2 ± 14.8

<0.001

89.9 ± 13.8

17.6 ± 14.8

<0.001

Mental Fatigue

73.2 ± 23.4

15.0 ± 16.6

<0.001

71.0 ± 24.5

14.2 ± 16.6

<0.001

Physical Fatigue

86.3 ± 17.0

9.8 ± 10.5

<0.001

84.9 ± 17.2

10.4 ± 9.7

<0.001

Reduced Activity

80.9 ± 22.6

11.8 ± 12.8

<0.001

78.7 ± 23.5

13.1 ± 13.6

<0.001

Reduced Motivation

46.8 ± 18.3

35.8 ± 18.3

<0.001

46.2 ± 18.3

32.6 ± 9.3

<0.001

  1. aPrior physician diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome, self reported on the questionnaire.
  2. b Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory; scored on 0-100 scale with 0 = no fatigue and 100 = greater fatigue.
  3. c SD: standard deviation.
  4. d For categorical variables, p-values were derived from Chi-squared tests; For continuous variables, p-values were derived from Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.
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