Possible Racial Disparities in the Diagnosis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15480219 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Chloe Jones (0000-0002-7447-5442, corresponding author), Chloe Lisette Jones (0000-0002-7288-8235, University of Alabama at Birmingham, corresponding author), Jarred Younger (0000-0003-3616-9919, University of Alabama at Birmingham) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 280-280 |
| Publication date | 2025-02-14 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph22020280 |
| PMID | 40003505 |
| OpenAlex | W4407585301 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 36 |
Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) a chronic, disabling illness with no established etiopathology. It has been indicated in some population-based studies that Black and ethnic minority populations are underdiagnosed with ME/CFS. The aims of the present study were to (1) identify the agreement between receiving an ME/CFS diagnosis and meeting diagnostic criteria, (2) identify the demographic characteristics associated with receiving a diagnosis, and (3) explore patient satisfaction with healthcare. Self-reported medical history and symptoms were collected via online survey from respondents with and without fatigue. The agreement between self-reporting an ME/CFS diagnosis and meeting the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) ME/CFS criteria or Institute of Medicine (IOM) criteria was assessed with Cohen's kappa. Patient characteristics predicting a physician diagnosis were analyzed with logistic regression. Associations between diagnosis, demographics, and healthcare satisfaction were assessed with chi-square tests of independence. There were 1110 responses. The agreement between meeting ME/CFS criteria and reporting an ME/CFS diagnosis was fair (CDC: κ = 0.29; SE = 0.02; IOM: κ = 0.28, SE = 0.03). White respondents had 2.94 greater odds of being diagnosed with ME/CFS than non-White respondents. Having an ME/CFS diagnosis was associated with dissatisfaction with healthcare (χ 2 (3, N = 1063) = 14.17, p = 0.003). The findings suggest racial disparities in the diagnostic processes for ME/CFS
Chronic fatigue syndrome · Encephalomyelitis · Multiple sclerosis · Psychiatry · Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research · Medicine · Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation · Workplace Health and Well-being
SF-36 Health Survey Update
The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The Measurement of Observer Agreement for Categorical Data
The Prevalence of Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a Community-Based Sample
‘We have no services for you… so you have to make the best out of it’
Comorbid Illness in Women With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Race, Medical Mistrust, and Segregation in Primary Care as Usual Source of Care
Effects of unsupportive social interactions, stigma, and symptoms on patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome
Thirty Years of Disparities Intervention Research
Disparities and distrust
Causal attributions and perceived stigma for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
The Conscientious Responders Scale
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |