Table 5 Median (IQR) fatigue and physical function at baseline (assessment) and at 1- to 5-year follow-up among patients treated by CFS/ME specialist services

Chalder Fatigue Scale (range 0–33)

All former patients in sample

28 (24–31), n = 1265

21 (13–26), n = 516

20 (15–27), n = 80

21 (15–26), n = 83

20 (16–26), n = 106

21 (14–28), n = 99

Patients who reported very much or much better overall health at 2, 3, 4, or 5 years

27 (23–40), n = 117

16 (11–22), n = 69

15.5 (11–20), n = 20

14 (8–19), n = 22

16 (11–19), n = 41

11 (11–17), n = 31

Patients who reported little or no change in overall health at 2, 3, 4, or 5 years

27.5 (23–30), n = 202

22 (16–26), n = 124

20.5 (15.5–27), n = 52

22 (18–26), n = 47

21 (17–24), n = 47

21 (19–27), n = 43

Patients who reported very much or much worse overall health at 2, 3, 4, or 5 years

27 (33–66), n = 30

24.5 (19–32), n = 42

30 (24–32), n = 8

33 (26–33), n = 14

30.5 (26–33), n = 18

31 (25–33), n = 25

SF36 Physical Function Subscale (range 0–100)

All former patients in sample

47 (27–67), n = 1265

52 (32–77), n = 516

52 (29.5–74.5), n = 80

52 (27–77), n = 83

57 (32–82), n = 106

52 (32–82), n = 99

Patients who reported very much or much better overall health at 2, 3, 4, or 5 years

52 (37–67), n = 117

72 (52–82), n = 69

77 (49.5–97), n = 20

87 (67–97), n = 22

82 (62–87), n = 41

87 (72–97), n = 31

Patients who reported little or no change in overall health at 2, 3, 4, or 5 years

47 (32–62), n = 202

49.5 (32–72), n = 124

52 (29.5–72), n = 52

47 (27–67), n = 47

52 (27–67), n = 47

52 (32–72), n = 43

Patients who reported very much or much worse overall health at 2, 3, 4, or 5 years

29.5 (17–52), n = 66

24.5 (12–52), n = 42

24.5 (7–34.5), n = 8

17 (2–37), n = 14

22 (7–47), n = 18

22 (2–37), n = 25