Article Text
Abstract
Aims To characterise the patient population of an NHS tertiary adolescent Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) service.
Methods We retrospectively collected data about 118 patients aged 11–19 referred between April 2012-April 2014 who were followed up for two years or more. Patients seen but not diagnosed with CFS/ME were excluded. Notes were reviewed and relevant data collected. The data were analysed to produce descriptive statistics.
Results Most patients were female (67%) with an average age of 15.3 years. The population was split between those with a co-morbidity (48.3%) and those without ( table 1 ). Physical co-morbidities included asthma and type 1 diabetes. Psychiatric co-morbidities included anxiety and depression diagnosed prior to referral. The severity of CFS/ME is described in table 2 . 38.1% of patients were from single parent households, and over one-quarter (27.1%) of patients were not in contact with one parent. Deprivation is described in table 3 . Most patients (64.2%) attended state schools, 11.7% did not attend school and 14.2% attended private schools. The remainder were home schooled or unknown. Current or historical bullying was experienced by 16.1% of patients. Regarding outcomes, 39.1% of patients recovered (defined as discharged due to recovery or increasing school attendance by >25% at 6 months), 16.5% were discharged due to non-attendance and the remainder were transferred to adult CFS/ME and other services.
Conclusion 60% of patients were moderately or severely affected. Co-existent medical and psychiatric co-morbidities were common. Females, children from single parent households1, privately educated children2 and those who do not attend school3 are over-represented relative to the general population. The patient population is less deprived than average. Future work aims to identify significant associations between patient characteristics and outcomes to identify predictors of recovery.
References
Office for National Statistics, (2017). Families and Households: 2017. Statistical Bulletin. Newport.
Independent Schools Council. Research. https://www.isc.co.uk/research/(accessed 27/09/2018).
Department for Education, Office for National Statistics, (2017). Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2016 and spring 2017; London.