The Association of Hormone Levels with the Risk of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Open Access

Abstract

Abstract
The Association of Hormone Levels with the Risk of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Background - Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by profound fatigue that substantially interferes with daily activities and at least 4 of 8 other symptoms. The condition is more common in women and especially in the 40-50 age range. The causes of CFS illness are not yet understood. Except for cortisol, other hormones have barely been studied in CFS. The objective of this study is to investigate the association of hormones and CFS illness.

Methods - We used the dataset from the first follow up study CFS in GA. Wilcoxon non-parametric tests were applied to the mean differences of hormones between CFS and Non-CFS. Logistic regression and sex-adjusted logistic regression were used to investigate the association of hormones and CFS, and ordinal logistic regression models were used to explore the association of hormones and the functional scores from several SF-36 subscales among women.

Results - There was a significantly higher proportion of women in the CFS group. The means of hormones differed between CFS and Non-CFS by sex, but not by race. The means of cortistol, DHEAS, testosterone, and BMI were significantly different between CFS and Non-CFS persons. After adjusting for sex in the logistic regression analysis, prolactin (p=0.0232) and BMI (p=0.0054) were the best predictor of CFS. In most SF-36 subscales among women, when CFS status is not considered, some hormones are related to most of the SF-36 subscales. However, among women with CFS, there is no significant association between hormonal levels and SF-36 scores.

Conclusion - We found that there is an association between some hormones and CFS, but there is no significant association between SF-36 scores and hormones in women with CFS.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

1. Introduction...1
2. Background& Literature...2

Objectives

3. Methodology...3

Data sources and sample
Variables/ Measures
Statistical Analysis

4. Results...6
5. Discussion...7
6. Reference...9
7. Appendix...11

A: Tables
B: SF-36 Questionnaire

About this Master's Thesis

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• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
Subfield / Discipline	Biostatistics - MPH & MSPH
Degree	MSPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Biology, Biostatistics Health Sciences, Public Health
Keyword	CFS hormones chronic fatigue syndrome SF-36
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Haber, Michael J, Emory University
Committee Members	Boneva, Roumi,
Partnering Agencies	CDC

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