Open-label pilot for treatment targeting gut dysbiosis in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: neuropsychological symptoms and sex comparisons

Table 2 Baseline demographics for intention-to-treat sample stratified by sex

Demographics	Total sample (N = 44)			Females (n = 27)			Males (n = 17)
Demographics	n	M (SD)^a	Range	n	M (SD)^a	Range	n	M (SD)^a	Range
Age (years)	44	44.1 (13.5)	18–65	27	43.8 (12.8)	19–62	17	44.5 (14.9)	18–65
Hours worked per week (not parenting)	37	13.0 (16.8)	0–45	23	9.4 (15.5)	0–40	14	19.0 (17.7)	0–45
Fatigue severity (general fatigue)^b	42	17.2 (3.0)	9–20	27	18.0 (2.4)	11–20	15	15.7 (3.4)	9–20
Duration of illness (years)	35	9.9 (6.9)	.5–26	23	9.6 (7.1)	.5–26	12	10.4 (6.6)	1–20
Frequency short duration (≤ 3 years)		7 (15.9%)			5 (18.5)			2 (11.8%)
Frequency long duration (> 3 years)		28 (63.6%)			18 (66.7%)			10 (58.8%)
Unknown		9 (20.45%)			4 (14.81%)			5 (29.41%)

Information about the duration of the illness was also described by classifying into two groups of shorter (≤ 3 years) and longer (> 3 years) duration using the same ranges as in Hornig et al. [89]
^aData reflects mean (standard deviation) or frequency (%)
^bMultidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 (MFI-20) general fatigue subscale scores range from 4 to 20 [56] with severe fatigue indicated by scores ≥ 13 in a prior study [67]

ISSN: 1479-5876