Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: 10.3390/jcm10112327
Title: Post-exertional malaise may be related to central blood pressure, sympathetic activity and mental fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome patients
Authors: Kujawski, Sławomir
Słomko, Joanna
Hodges, Lynette
Pheby, Derek F.H.
Murovska, Modra
Newton, Julia L.
Zalewski, Paweł
Institute of Microbiology and Virology
Keywords: Brain fog;Myalgic encephalomyelitis;PEM;Vascular stiffness;3.2 Clinical medicine;3.3 Health sciences;1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database;General Medicine
Issue Date: 26-May-2021
Citation: Kujawski , S , Słomko , J , Hodges , L , Pheby , D F H , Murovska , M , Newton , J L & Zalewski , P 2021 , ' Post-exertional malaise may be related to central blood pressure, sympathetic activity and mental fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome patients ' , Journal of clinical medicine , vol. 10 , no. 11 , 2327 . https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10112327
Abstract: Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is regarded as the hallmark symptom in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The aim of the current study is to explore differences in CFS patients with and without PEM in indicators of aortic stiffness, autonomic nervous system function, and severity of fatigue. One-hundred and one patients met the Fukuda criteria. A Chronic Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ) and Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) were used to assess the level of mental and physical fatigue. Aortic systolic blood pressure (sBPaortic) and the autonomic nervous system were measured with the arteriograph and Task Force Monitor, respectively. Eighty-two patients suffered prolonged PEM according to the Fukuda criteria, while 19 did not. Patients with PEM had higher FIS scores (p = 0.02), lower central systolic blood pressure (p = 0.02) and higher mental fatigue (p = 0.03). For a one-point increase in the mental fatigue component of the CFQ scale, the risk of PEM increases by 34%. For an sBPaortic increase of 1 mmHg, the risk of PEM decreases by 5%. For a one unit increase in sympathovagal balance, the risk of PEM increases by 330%. Higher mental fatigue and sympathetic activity in rest are related to an increased risk of PEM, while higher central systolic blood pressure is related to a reduced risk of PEM. However, none of the between group differences were significant after FDR correction, and therefore conclusions should be treated with caution and replicated in further studies.
Description: Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
DOI: 10.3390/jcm10112327
ISSN: 2077-0383
Appears in Collections:Research outputs from Pure / Zinātniskās darbības rezultāti no ZDIS Pure



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