TY - JOUR
T1 - Systematic review of the epidemiological burden of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome across Europe: Current evidence and EUROMENE research recommendations for epidemiology
AU - Estévez-López, Fernando
AU - Mudie, Kathleen
AU - Wang-Steverding, Xia
AU - Bakken, Inger Johanne
AU - Ivanovs, Andrejs
AU - Castro-Marrero, Jesús
AU - Nacul, Luis
AU - Alegre, Jose
AU - Zalewski, Paweł
AU - Słomko, Joanna
AU - Strand, Elin Bolle
AU - Pheby, Derek
AU - Shikova, Evelina
AU - Lorusso, Lorenzo
AU - Capelli, Enrica
AU - Sekulic, Slobodan
AU - Scheibenbogen, Carmen
AU - Sepúlveda, Nuno
AU - Murovska, Modra
AU - Lacerda, Eliana
AU - The European Network on ME/CFS (EUROMENE)
N1 - Funding information: This work was supported by the COST (Action CA 15111: The European Network on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; EUROMENE), the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie [grant agreement no. 707404 to F.E.-L.], the Bulgarian National Science Fund (ДKOCT 01/9 to E.S.). The funders of the present study did not have any role in the design, decision to publish, or preparation of the protocol.
PY - 2020/5/21
Y1 - 2020/5/21
N2 - This review aimed at determining the prevalence and incidence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) in Europe. We conducted a primary search in Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science for publications between 1994 and 15 June 2019 (PROSPERO: CRD42017078688). Additionally, we performed a backward-(reference lists) and forward-(citations) search of the works included in this review. Grey literature was addressed by contacting all members of the European Network on ME/CFS (EUROMENE). Independent reviewers searched, screened and selected studies, extracted data and evaluated the methodological and reporting quality. For prevalence, two studies in adults and one study in adolescents were included. Prevalence ranged from 0.1% to 2.2%. Two studies also included incidence estimates. In conclusion, studies on the prevalence and incidence of ME/CFS in Europe were scarce. Our findings point to the pressing need for well-designed and statistically powered epidemiological studies. To overcome the shortcomings of the current state-of-the-art, EUROMENE recommends that future research is better conducted in the community, reviewing the clinical history of potential cases, obtaining additional objective information (when needed) and using adequate ME/CFS case definitions; namely, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention−1994, Canadian Consensus Criteria, or Institute of Medicine criteria.
AB - This review aimed at determining the prevalence and incidence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) in Europe. We conducted a primary search in Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science for publications between 1994 and 15 June 2019 (PROSPERO: CRD42017078688). Additionally, we performed a backward-(reference lists) and forward-(citations) search of the works included in this review. Grey literature was addressed by contacting all members of the European Network on ME/CFS (EUROMENE). Independent reviewers searched, screened and selected studies, extracted data and evaluated the methodological and reporting quality. For prevalence, two studies in adults and one study in adolescents were included. Prevalence ranged from 0.1% to 2.2%. Two studies also included incidence estimates. In conclusion, studies on the prevalence and incidence of ME/CFS in Europe were scarce. Our findings point to the pressing need for well-designed and statistically powered epidemiological studies. To overcome the shortcomings of the current state-of-the-art, EUROMENE recommends that future research is better conducted in the community, reviewing the clinical history of potential cases, obtaining additional objective information (when needed) and using adequate ME/CFS case definitions; namely, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention−1994, Canadian Consensus Criteria, or Institute of Medicine criteria.
KW - Central nervous system diseases
KW - Infections
KW - Muscular diseases
KW - Post-exertional malaise
KW - Virus diseases
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85099324899&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/jcm9051557
DO - 10.3390/jcm9051557
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85099324899
VL - 9
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
JF - Journal of Clinical Medicine
SN - 2077-0383
IS - 5
M1 - 1557
ER -