Objective: To estimate the economic impact of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) on the individual, the government, and the community.
Design: The financial burden produced by CFS was studied by calculating the direct and indirect costs arising from the disorder. Data regarding use of health resources, income and employment were obtained by questionnaire from patients with CFS. In addition, aggregate Medicare data on the incidence and fees charged for each Schedule item for these patients was obtained.
Setting: The Richmond Valley, New South Wales.
Participants: Forty-two patients with CFS identified in our population-based prevalence study.
Results: The conservative estimate of the per annum costs of CFS in the Richmond Valley, with a prevalence of 37.1 cases per 100,000, was $396,000. If extrapolated to the Australian population, we estimate CFS would generate an annual cost of at least $59 million.
Conclusion: This disorder constitutes a large but neglected area of health resource utilisation and economic burden.