Post-Exertional Malaise May Be Related to Central Blood Pressure, Sympathetic Activity and Mental Fatigue in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients

Kujawski, Sławomir, Słomko, Joanna, Hodges, Lynette, Pheby, Derek F. H., Murovska, Modra, Newton, Julia L. and Zalewski, Paweł (2021) Post-Exertional Malaise May Be Related to Central Blood Pressure, Sympathetic Activity and Mental Fatigue in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10 (11). e2327. ISSN 2077-0383

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Abstract

Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is regarded as the hallmark symptom in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The aim of the current study is to explore differences in CFS patients with and without PEM in indicators of aortic stiffness, autonomic nervous system function, and severity of fatigue. One-hundred and one patients met the Fukuda criteria. A Chronic Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ) and Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) were used to assess the level of mental and physical fatigue. Aortic systolic blood pressure (sBPaortic) and the autonomic nervous system were measured with the arteriograph and Task Force Monitor, respectively. Eighty-two patients suffered prolonged PEM according to the Fukuda criteria, while 19 did not. Patients with PEM had higher FIS scores (p = 0.02), lower central systolic blood pressure (p = 0.02) and higher mental fatigue (p = 0.03). For a one-point increase in the mental fatigue component of the CFQ scale, the risk of PEM increases by 34%. For an sBPaortic increase of 1 mmHg, the risk of PEM decreases by 5%. For a one unit increase in sympathovagal balance, the risk of PEM increases by 330%. Higher mental fatigue and sympathetic activity in rest are related to an increased risk of PEM, while higher central systolic blood pressure is related to a reduced risk of PEM. However, none of the between group differences were significant after FDR correction, and therefore conclusions should be treated with caution and replicated in further studies.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: ** From MDPI via Jisc Publications Router ** History: accepted 23-05-2021; pub-electronic 26-05-2021. ** Licence for this article: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Keywords: PEM, myalgic encephalomyelitis, brain fog, vascular stiffness
SWORD Depositor: JISC Router
Depositing User: JISC Router
Date Deposited: 28 May 2021 08:07
Last Modified: 02 Jun 2021 08:40
URI: https://bnu.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/18289

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