Table 2 Sex-specific associations of plasma sex steroid levels with ME/CFS, age and BMI

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

 

Female

Male

Coefficient

95% CI

p-value

Coefficient

95% CI

p-value

Testosterone (pg/mL)

ME/CFS

1.74

−36.50

39.97

0.929

175.88

−783.67

1135.42

0.722

Age

−24.54

−43.72

−5.36

0.015

45.52

−457.38

548.41

0.860

BMI

6.90

−12.68

26.47

0.492

−640.97

−1146.08

−135.86

0.019

Estradiol (pg/mL)

ME/CFS

2.35

−26.50

31.21

0.874

−2.77

−6.75

1.20

0.182

Age

−22.49

−36.97

−8.01

0.003

1.84

−0.24

3.93

0.093

BMI

−10.15

−24.93

4.62

0.183

1.07

−1.03

3.16

0.326

  1. Linear regression models were fitted with levels of each sex steroid as the dependent variable. The binary ME/CFS status, age and BMI were included as independent variables. Variables of age and BMI were standardized using z-scores. The interaction terms of ME/CFS x age were explored but were not included due to non-significance. Eight participants (7 women, 1 man) took hormone supplements or birth control measures (oral pills or intrauterine devices) and were excluded from this analysis. BMI body mass index.
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