Table 1 Characteristics of the study participants (n = 262) and group differences between those with and without a ME/CFS diagnosis for the measured variables

Gender (men/women), n (%)

25/180 (12/88)

18/39 (32/68)

–

–

Age (years), Mean (SD)

45 (11)

49 (14)

–

–

Physical activity

Activity minutes weekly Mean (SD)

109 (107)

150 (141)

8 (6/2)

0.031

Work ability

WAI score (0–10) *#

1.0 (0.0–3.0)

1.6 (1.9)

2.0 (0.0–4.5)

2.6 (2.5)

7 (5/2)

0.007

Anxiety

HAD-Anxiety (0–21) *#

7 (3–11)

7.5 (4.8)

7 (4–9)

6.9 (4.3)

6 (6/0)

0.593

Depression

HAD-Depression (0–21) *#

9 (6–13)

9.3 (4.7)

8 (6–11)

8.7 (4.5)

6 (6/0)

0.211

RAND-36

Physical functioning

(0-100) *#

40 (25–55)

40.3 (21.1)

45 (35–62)

48.9 (22.0)

15 (10/5)

0.029

Role limitations due to physical health problems

(0/> 0) n (%)

189 (97)/6 (3)

42 (82)/9 (18)

16 (10/6)

0.001

Role limitations due to personal or emotional problems

(0-100) *#

67 (0–100)

56 (45.4)

67 (0–100)

57 (44.3)

17 (11/6)

0.775

Social functioning

(0-100) *#

25 (0–25)

21.3 (18.5)

25 (13–44)

32.0 (23.9)

8 (6/2)

0.001

Energy/fatigue

(0-100) *#

5 (0–15)

10.3 (12.0)

10 (5–27.5)

19.4 (20.8)

6 (4/2)

< 0.001

Bodily pain

(0-100) *#

23 (10–45)

30.7 (23.5)

45 (23–55)

41.4 (25.8)

7 (5/2)

0.011

Emotional well-being

(0-100) *#

60 (44–76)

57.9 (21.5)

68 (44–76)

59.8 (22.4)

6 (4/2)

0.534

General health perceptions

(0-100) *#

20 (15–30)

22.9 (13.6)

30 (20–43.8)

32.54 (17.5)

9 (6/3)

< 0.001