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Int J Sports Med 2019; 40(02): 77-87
DOI: 10.1055/a-0802-9175
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Peak Oxygen Uptake in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Meta-Analysis

John Derek Franklin
1   School of Health and Social Care, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Greg Atkinson
1   School of Health and Social Care, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Janet M. Atkinson
2   Middlesbrough College, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Alan M. Batterham
1   School of Health and Social Care, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted 08 November 2018

Publication Date:
17 December 2018 (online)

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Abstract

To evaluate the magnitude of the difference in VO2peak between patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and apparently healthy controls, 7 databases (Cochrane, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Knowledge, Embase, Scopus, Medline) were searched for articles published up to March 2018. Search terms included “chronic fatigue syndrom*”AND (“peak” OR “maxim*” OR “max”) AND (“oxygen uptake” OR “oxygen consumption” OR “VO2peak” or “VO2max”. Eligibility criteria were adults>18 y with clinically diagnosed CFS/ME, with VO2peak measured in a maximal test and compared against an apparently healthy control group. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using a modified Systematic Appraisal of Quality for Observational Research critical appraisal framework. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted on 32 cross-sectional studies (effects). Pooled mean VO2peak was 5.2 (95% CI: 3.8–6.6) ml.kg−1min−1 lower in CFS/ME patients vs. healthy controls. Between-study variability (Tau) was 3.4 (1.5–4.5) ml.kg−1min−1 indicating substantial heterogeneity. The 95% prediction interval was −1.9 to 12.2 ml.kg−1min−1. The probability that the effect in a future study would be>the minimum clinically important difference of 1.1 ml.kg−1min−1 (in favour of controls) was 0.88 – likely to be clinically relevant. Synthesis of the available evidence indicates that CFS/ME patients have a substantially reduced VO2peak compared to controls.

Key words

chronic fatigue syndrome - peak oxygen uptake - maximal oxygen uptake - VO2peak
 

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