Prevalence and Incidence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Prevalance of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:

500,000 Americans (CDC/NIAID) ... see also overview of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Prevalance Rate:

approx 1 in 544 or 0.18% or 500,000 people in USA [Source statistic for calcuation: "500,000 Americans (CDC/NIAID)" -- see also general information about data sources]

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Rare Disease

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or a subtype of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.

Ophanet, who are a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when if affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as a "rare disease". More information about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is available from Orphanet

Prevalance of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:

CDC estimates, however, that as many as 500,000 people in the United States have a CFS-like condition. (Source: excerpt from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

Prevelance statistics for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:

The following statistics relate to the prevalence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:

• 500,000 cases of chronic fatigue syndrome in the US (NIH, The National Women’s Health Centre, 2004)
• more statistics...»

Prevalence/Incidence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the prevalence and/or incidence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Headache: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Most chronic headaches result from tension (muscle contraction), which may be caused by emotional stress, fatigue, menstruation, or environmental stimuli (noise, crowds, or bright lights). Other possible causes include glaucoma; inflammation of the eyes or mucosa of the nasal or paranasal sinuses; diseases of the scalp, teeth, extracranial arteries, or external or middle ear; muscle spasms of the face, neck, or shoulders; and cervical arthritis. In addition, headaches may be caused by vasodilators (nitrates, alcohol, and histamine), systemic disease, hypoxia, hypertension, head trauma and tumor, intracranial bleeding, abscess, or aneurysm.

The cause of migraine headache is unknown, but it’s associated with constriction and dilation of intracranial and extracranial arteries. Certain biochemical abnormalities are thought to occur during a migraine attack. These include local leakage of a vasodilator polypeptide called neurokinin through the dilated arteries and a decrease in the plasma level of serotonin.

Headache pain may emanate from the pain-sensitive structures of the skin, scalp, muscles, arteries, and veins; cranial nerves V, VII, IX, and X; or cervical nerves 1, 2, and 3. Intracranial mechanisms of headaches include traction or displacement of arteries, venous sinuses, or venous tributaries and inflammation or direct pressure on the cranial nerves with afferent pain fibers.

Affecting up to 10% of Americans, headaches are more common in females and have a strong familial incidence.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

About prevalence and incidence statistics:

The term 'prevalence' of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.