Adolescent Offspring of Mothers With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Journal: J Adolesc Health. 2010 Mar;46(3):284-291. Epub 2009 Oct 13.
Authors: Smith MS, Buchwald DS, Bogart A, Goldberg J, Smith WR, Afari N.
Affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington,
Seattle, Washington.
NLM Citation: PMID: 20159507
PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to determine whether adolescent
offspring of mothers with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have higher
prevalence of CFS and report more fatigue, greater pain sensitivity,
more sleep problems, and poorer cardiopulmonary fitness in comparison
with offspring with no exposure to maternal CFS.
METHODS: A total of 26 adolescent offspring of 20 mothers diagnosed
with CFS were compared with 45 adolescent offspring of 30 age-matched
healthy control mothers. Study measures included structured
interviews and medical and laboratory examinations for CFS; tender
point examination; maximum oxygen uptake and perceived exertion;
dolorimetry pain ratings; and questionnaires on fatigue severity and
sleepiness.
RESULTS: In comparison with offspring of healthy mothers, those
exposed to mothers with CFS reported higher prevalence of fatigue of
at least 1-month duration (23% vs. 4%), fatigue of 6 months or longer
(15% vs. 2%), and met criteria for CFS (12% vs. 2%), although these
differences only approached statistical significance. CFS and healthy
mothers differed on almost all study outcomes, but offspring groups
did not differ on measures of current fatigue severity, pain
sensitivity, sleep, mean number of tender points, and cardiopulmonary fitness.
CONCLUSIONS: The higher prevalence of fatiguing states in offspring
of CFS mothers, despite the lack of statistical significance,
suggests that familial factors may potentially play a role in
developing chronically fatiguing states. Alternately, perturbations
in pain sensitivity and cardiopulmonary fitness may be consequences
of CFS. Future studies should focus on examining the impact of
maternal CFS and associated disability on psychosocial functioning of
offspring.
Journal: J Adolesc Health. 2010 Mar;46(3):284-291. Epub 2009 Oct 13.
Authors: Smith MS, Buchwald DS, Bogart A, Goldberg J, Smith WR, Afari N.
Affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington,
Seattle, Washington.
NLM Citation: PMID: 20159507
PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to determine whether adolescent
offspring of mothers with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have higher
prevalence of CFS and report more fatigue, greater pain sensitivity,
more sleep problems, and poorer cardiopulmonary fitness in comparison
with offspring with no exposure to maternal CFS.
METHODS: A total of 26 adolescent offspring of 20 mothers diagnosed
with CFS were compared with 45 adolescent offspring of 30 age-matched
healthy control mothers. Study measures included structured
interviews and medical and laboratory examinations for CFS; tender
point examination; maximum oxygen uptake and perceived exertion;
dolorimetry pain ratings; and questionnaires on fatigue severity and
sleepiness.
RESULTS: In comparison with offspring of healthy mothers, those
exposed to mothers with CFS reported higher prevalence of fatigue of
at least 1-month duration (23% vs. 4%), fatigue of 6 months or longer
(15% vs. 2%), and met criteria for CFS (12% vs. 2%), although these
differences only approached statistical significance. CFS and healthy
mothers differed on almost all study outcomes, but offspring groups
did not differ on measures of current fatigue severity, pain
sensitivity, sleep, mean number of tender points, and cardiopulmonary fitness.
CONCLUSIONS: The higher prevalence of fatiguing states in offspring
of CFS mothers, despite the lack of statistical significance,
suggests that familial factors may potentially play a role in
developing chronically fatiguing states. Alternately, perturbations
in pain sensitivity and cardiopulmonary fitness may be consequences
of CFS. Future studies should focus on examining the impact of
maternal CFS and associated disability on psychosocial functioning of
offspring.
