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Table 1 Demographic characteristics

From: Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome

 

CFS patients (n = 120)

Healthy controls (n = 68)

p valuec

Background

 Female gender

Number, %

88

73

46

68

0.563

 Age (years)

Mean, SD

15.4

1.6

15.1

1.6

0.179

 Body mass index (kg/m2)

Mean, SD

21.5

4.2

20.6

3.7

0.119

 Disease duration (months)

Median, range

18

4–104

n/a

  

 Adheres to the Fukuda criteria of CFSa

Number, %

88

73

n/a

  

 Adheres to the Canada 2003-criteria of CFSb

Number, %

46

38

n/a

  

Immune, autonomic and neuroendocrine markers

 Serum C-reactive protein (mg/l)

Median, IQR

0.43

0.96

0.35

0.46

0.049

 Heart rate variability, LF power (abs)

Median, IQR

481

772

682

1514

0.015

 Heart rate variability, HF power (abs)

Median, IQR

788

1835

1058

1837

0.070

 Heart rate variability, LF/HF-ratio

Median, IQR

0.69

0.64

0.74

0.38

0.792

 Plasma norepinephrine (pmol/l)

Mean, SD

1991

783

1483

422

< 0.001

 Plasma epinephrine (pmol/l)

Median, IQR

308

131

265

95

0.001

 Plasma cortisol (nmol/l)

Mean, SD

367

143

351

150

0.460

 Urine norepinephrine/creatinine ratio (nmol/mmol)

Median, IQR

12.3

5.8

10.8

5.8

0.102

 Urine epinephrine/creatinine ratio (nmol/mmol)

Median, IQR

1.3

1.2

1.5

1.0

0.649

 Urine cortisol/creatinine ratio (nmol/mmol)

Median, IQR

3.4

3.1

5.3

6.0

0.001

Clinical makers

 Symptoms of post-exertional malaise (total score)

Mean, SD

4.0

1.0

1.4

0.5

< 0.001

 Inflammatory symptoms (total score)

Mean, SD

2.1

0.9

1.3

0.5

< 0.001

 Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (total score)

Mean, SD

19.3

6.1

8.7

4.6

< 0.001

 Moods and Feelings Questionnaire (total score)

Mean, SD

17.4

10.0

6.4

7.8

< 0.001

 Spielberger state-trait anxiety questionnaire (trait subscore)

Mean, SD

43.2

8.9

32.3

7.2

< 0.001

 Steps per day (number)

Mean, SD

4662

2386

10,293

3716

< 0.001

  1. P values in italics indicate statistical significance
  2. n/a not applicable, SD standard deviation, IQR interquartile range, LF low-frequency power of heart rate variability, HF high-frequency power of heart rate variability
  3. aCf. Ref. [35]
  4. bCf. Ref. [33]
  5. cStatistical comparison across CFS group and HC group are based upon Independent sample t test, Mann–Whitney test or Fisher exact test as appropriate
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Journal of Translational Medicine

ISSN: 1479-5876

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