CHRONIC-FATIGUE-SYNDROME - PHYSICAL AND CARDIOVASCULAR DECONDITIONING

We investigated whether chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients have p hysical and/or cardiovascular de-conditioning, in 273 CFS patients and 72 healthy controls. We used laboratory tests to assess haematologica l, biochemical, endocrinological and immunological systems. The cardio vascular system was assessed by echocardiography and carotid echograph y. Body composition was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). CFS patients had smaller left ventricular end systolic (p < 0 .001) and diastolic (p=0.008) dimensions but thinner posterior walls ( p = 0.02) than corresponding values in healthy controls. Left ventricu lar mass was also reduced in CFS patients (p=0.006). Both maximum (p<0 .001) and minimum (p<0.008) diameter of the carotid artery were smalle r in CFS patients. The laboratory screening tests showed significant d ifferences in serum albumin (p=0.05), phosphate (p= 0.02), HDL-cholest erol (p= 0.03), HDL:total cholesterol ratio (p=0.01), triglycerides (p =0.02), neutrophils (p=0.01) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (p= 0.04) between CFS patients and controls. Male CFS patients had an increased percentage of fat mass compared with healthy male subjects (p 0.02). This large group of CFS patients had evidence of physical and cardiova scular de-conditioning, suggesting that in these patients a graded exe rcise programme could lead to physical reconditioning and could increa se their ability to perform physical activities.