Chronic fatigue syndrome: physical and cardiovascular deconditioning

We investigated whether chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients have physical and/or cardiovascular de-conditioning, in 273 CFS patients and 72 healthy controls. We used laboratory tests to assess haematological, biochemical, endocrinological and immunological systems. The cardiovascular system was assessed by echocardiography and carotid echography. Body composition was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). CFS patients had smaller left ventricular end systolic (p < 0.001) and diastolic (p=0.008) dimensions but thinner posterior walls (p = 0.02) than corresponding values in healthy controls. Left ventricular mass was also reduced in CFS patients (p=0.006). Both maximum (p<0.001) and minimum (p<0.008) diameter of the carotid artery were smaller in CFS patients. The laboratory screening tests showed significant differences in serum albumin (p=0.05), phosphate (p= 0.02), HDL-cholesterol (p= 0.03), HDL:total cholesterol ratio (p=0.01), triglycerides (p=0.02), neutrophils (p=0.01) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (p= 0.04) between CFS patients and controls. Male CFS patients had an increased percentage of fat mass compared with healthy male subjects (p 0.02). This large group of CFS patients had evidence of physical and cardiovascular de-conditioning, suggesting that in these patients a graded exercise programme could lead to physical reconditioning and could increase their ability to perform physical activities.