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. 2014 Oct 1:12:167.
doi: 10.1186/s12916-014-0167-5.

Two age peaks in the incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a population-based registry study from Norway 2008-2012

Inger Johanne Bakken  1 , Kari Tveito  2 , Nina Gunnes  3 , Sara Ghaderi  4 , Camilla Stoltenberg  5   6 , Lill Trogstad  7 , Siri Eldevik Håberg  8 , Per Magnus  9
Affiliations

Two age peaks in the incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a population-based registry study from Norway 2008-2012

Inger Johanne Bakken et al. BMC Med. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of the current study was to estimate sex- and age-specific incidence rates of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) using population-based registry data. CFS/ME is a debilitating condition with large impact on patients and their families. The etiology is unknown, and the distribution of the disease in the general population has not been well described.

Methods: Cases of CFS/ME were identified in the Norwegian Patient Register (NPR) for the years 2008 to 2012. The NPR is nationwide and contains diagnoses assigned by specialist health care services (hospitals and outpatient clinics). We estimated sex- and age-specific incidence rates by dividing the number of new cases of CFS/ME in each category by the number of person years at risk. Incidence rate ratios were estimated by Poisson regression with sex, age categories, and year of diagnosis as covariates.

Results: A total of 5,809 patients were registered with CFS/ME during 2008 to 2012. The overall incidence rate was 25.8 per 100,000 person years (95% confidence interval (CI): 25.2 to 26.5). The female to male incidence rate ratio of CFS/ME was 3.2 (95% CI: 3.0 to 3.4). The incidence rate varied strongly with age for both sexes, with a first peak in the age group 10 to 19 years and a second peak in the age group 30 to 39 years.

Conclusions: Early etiological clues can sometimes be gained from examination of disease patterns. The strong female preponderance and the two age peaks suggest that sex- and age-specific factors may modulate the risk of CFS/ME.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Observed number of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) cases by sex and one-year age groups (age in 2008). Data from the Norwegian Patient Register 2008 to 2012.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Number of yearly cases of CFS/ME by sex and five-year age groups estimated by Poisson regression analyses. CFS/ME, chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Estimated incidence rates of CFS/ME per 100,000 person years by sex and five-year age groups. CFS/ME, chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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