Chronic fatigue may affect 150,000 more people in England than previously thought

An extra 150,000 people in England may be living with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) than was previously estimated, according to a study that highlights a "lottery" of diagnosis based on postcode and ethnicity.

- Tobi Thomas

The long-term condition, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), is characterised by symptoms including extreme fatigue, brain fog and issues with sleep. The key feature is known as post-exertional malaise, which is a delayed, dramatic worsening of these symptoms following minor physical effort. There is currently no diagnostic test or cure and the causes are unknown.

The study, published in the journal BMC Public Health, involved University of Edinburgh researchers analysing NHS England data from more than 62 million people to identify those diagnosed with ME/CFS or post-viral fatigue syndrome, which has similar key symptoms. The data was examined by gender, age and ethnicity, and grouped by different areas.