Aetiology and prevalence
Although the aetiology of M.E. is unknown, emerging evidence about the cause of M.E. include autoimmune deficiencies, viral infections, autonomic nervous system dysfunction and genetic factors, among others. While M.E. is not strictly hereditary there is some evidence for genetic predisposition.
The disease may occur with a sudden onset, such as following an infection, or it may occur with a gradual onset. There is no clear evidence that M.E. is a form of persistent, chronic infection though it may be a consequence of a viral or bacterial infection where the person does not recover in the normal way. It is not clear why some people get M.E. while others recover normally. Attempts to prove links with a specific virus have been unsuccessful. Many of the infections which trigger M.E. seem to be ordinary flu-like infections.
There may be a number of sub-groups, or phenotypes, of the illness, with differing aetiology, symptoms, response to treatment and prognosis. This heterogeneity has caused difficulty in conducting trials, along with patients being too unwell to take part in research, resulting in very small studies which are difficult to extrapolate to form a clearer picture of the illness. Evidence is emerging for possible phenotypes relating to:
- postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
- brain dysfunction
- gene expression changes following exercise
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of M.E./CFS, published in 2020, highlighted that "prevalence rates are widely varied particularly by case definitions and diagnostic methods. An objective diagnostic tool is urgently required for rigorous assessment" of the prevalence of M.E.
The October 2021 NICE guideline for M.E. says (page 84):
Recent data from the UK Biobank suggest that there are over 250,000 people in England and Wales with ME/CFS, with about 2.4 times as many women affected as men. ME/CFS can affect people of all ages. It is a complex, multi-system, chronic medical condition that has considerable personal, social and economic consequences and a significant impact on a person's quality of life, including their psychological, emotional and social wellbeing."
The prevalence of M.E./CFS in children and young people has been estimated in British, Dutch and US populations with numbers that vary widely, from 0.03% to to 1.29%.
