Table 1

Descriptive statistics for those with chronic disabling fatigue (CDF) at 18, those without CDF and those with missing data

Data on fatigue (n=4290)Missing fatigue data (n=9688)p Value‡
CDF (n=103)Not CDF (n=4187)p Value*†Total
Sex (male)27/103 (26%)1850/4187 (44.2%)<0.0011877/4290 (43.8%)5343/9688 (55.2%)<0.001
FAI at 8–10 years (range 0–14)1.39 (1.06–1.71)0.98 (0.94–1.03)0.0050.99 (0.95–1.03)1.11 (1.07–1.51)<0.001
Number of AS levels obtained#3.49 (3.09–3.88)3.52 (3.46–3.58)0.883.52 (3.46–3.58)3.51 (3.41–3.60)0.82
Number of A-levels studying#2.69 (2.18–3.21)2.83 (2.75–2.91)0.542.83 (2.75–2.91)2.85 (2.73–2.96)0.76
Depression at 18 (yes)20/50 (40%)421/2158 (19.5%)<0.001441/2208 (20.0%)248/985 (25.2%)0.001
Applied to university (yes)29/50 (58%)1324/2158 (61.4%)0.631353/2208 (61.3%)490/990 (49.5%)<0.001
Currently has a paid job (yes)26/46 (57%)1309/1955 (67.0%)0.141335/2001 (66.7%)563/880 (64.0%)0.153
Number of CFS/ME symptoms (≥4) (CDC criteria)30/103 (29%)218/4187 (5.2%)<0.001248/4290 (5.8%)
  • 2 tests for proportions, t-tests for means.

  • †CDF versus not CDF. #AS level: Advanced Subsidiary Level taken at 17 years A level: General Certificate of Education Advanced Level taken at 18 years.

  • ‡Fatigue data versus missing fatigue data.

  • CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; CFS/ME, chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis; FAI, Family adversity index.