Dataset Information

Symptom-based clusters in people with ME/CFS: an illustration of clinical variety in a cross-sectional cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex, heterogenous disease. It has been suggested that subgroups of people with ME/CFS exist, displaying a specific cluster of symptoms. Investigating symptom-based clusters may provide a better understanding of ME/CFS. Therefore, this study aimed to identify clusters in people with ME/CFS based on the frequency and severity of symptoms.

Methods

Members of the Dutch ME/CFS Foundation completed an online version of the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire version 2. Self-organizing maps (SOM) were used to generate symptom-based clusters using severity and frequency scores of the 79 measured symptoms. An extra dataset (n = 252) was used to assess the reproducibility of the symptom-based clusters.

Results

Data of 337 participants were analyzed (82% female; median (IQR) age: 55 (44-63) years). 45 clusters were identified, of which 13 clusters included ≥ 10 patients. Fatigue and PEM were reported across all of the symptom-based clusters, but the clusters were defined by a distinct pattern of symptom severity and frequency, as well as differences in clinical characteristics. 11% of the patients could not be classified into one of the 13 largest clusters. Applying the trained SOM to validation sample, resulted in a similar symptom pattern compared the Dutch dataset.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that in ME/CFS there are subgroups of patients displaying a similar pattern of symptoms. These symptom-based clusters were confirmed in an independent ME/CFS sample. Classification of ME/CFS patients according to severity and symptom patterns might be useful to develop tailored treatment options.

SUBMITTER: Vaes AW

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9921324 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Symptom-based clusters in people with ME/CFS: an illustration of clinical variety in a cross-sectional cohort.

Vaes Anouk W AW Van Herck Maarten M Deng Qichen Q Delbressine Jeannet M JM Jason Leonard A LA Spruit Martijn A MA

Journal of translational medicine 20230210 1

<h4>Background</h4>Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex, heterogenous disease. It has been suggested that subgroups of people with ME/CFS exist, displaying a specific cluster of symptoms. Investigating symptom-based clusters may provide a better understanding of ME/CFS. Therefore, this study aimed to identify clusters in people with ME/CFS based on the frequency and severity of symptoms.<h4>Methods</h4>Members of the Dutch ME/CFS Foundation completed an onli ...[more]

PMID: 36765375

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Dataset Information

Symptom-based clusters in people with ME/CFS: an illustration of clinical variety in a cross-sectional cohort.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Symptom-based clusters in people with ME/CFS: an illustration of clinical variety in a cross-sectional cohort.

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