That study is also questionable for a whole host of reasons... Starting with the fact that CFS in that study was merely self reported...
Also childhood atopy is something else most children grow out of it
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That study is also questionable for a whole host of reasons... Starting with the fact that CFS in that study was merely self reported...
I find this difficult to interpret. I'd find it more helpful to know the rate of atopy in ME patients.
I still can't interpret this. The figures refer to the rate of ME/CFS in atopy patients, and I don't find this illuminating. I'd rather know the rate of atopy in ME/CFS patients. Ignoring the methodological weaknesses that have been pointed out in this thread, the figures suggest that more atopy patients have ME/CFS than in the normal population, but they tell us little else. Even without the methodology weaknesses discussed, it doesn't seem to tell us anything particularly significant. Or am I missing something? Maybe I'm over complicating things for myself, but the figures are still meaningless for me to interpret; i.e. What does "1.37 per 1000 person-year" actually mean?The overall incidence rate of CFS was higher in the atopy cohort compared with the nonatopy cohort (1.37 versus 0.87 per 1000 person-year), with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.48 (95% confidence interval 1.30-1.69).
I still can't interpret this. ... What does "1.37 per 1000 person-year" actually mean?
See bolded bitAs an interesting aside, after I was diagnosed as CFS, by another doctor years later, my allergist let it be known that he didn't "believe" in CFS. A few years later a close friend of his, a doctor, lost his practice to, you guessed it, CFS. My allergist changed his mind...able to believe his doctor friend, though he hadn't been able to believe me.
Fam Pract. 2005 Aug;22(4):389-93. Epub 2005 Apr 1.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a survey of GPs' attitudes and knowledge.
Bowen J1, Pheby D, Charlett A, McNulty C.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
GPs need evidence and guidance to help them diagnose and manage Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)/ME appropriately.
OBJECTIVES:
The aim of this survey was to obtain baseline data and identify the factors associated with GPs' attitudes to and knowledge of CFS/ME. The attitude of GPs to the condition is an important indicator of likely prognosis.
METHODS:
A postal questionnaire was sent to 1054 GPs served by Taunton, Bristol and Gloucester laboratories. GPs' attitudes to nine statements about CFS/ME were assessed and the factors associated with positive or negative responses were determined. Knowledge of the clinical features was also assessed.
RESULTS:
811 GPs (77%) returned the questionnaire. 48% of GPs did not feel confident with making a diagnosis of CFS/ME and 41% did not feel confident in treatment. 72% of GPs accepted CFS/ME as a recognisable clinical entity and those GPs had significantly more positive attitudes. Three other key factors that were significantly, positively associated with GPs' attitudes were knowing someone socially with CFS/ME, being male and seeing more patients with the condition in the last year.
CONCLUSION:
Despite the publication of guidance for GPs on CFS/ME, confidence with making a diagnosis and management was found to be low. Educational initiatives and guidance for GPs should stress the importance of accepting CFS/ME as a recognisable clinical entity, as this is linked to having a positive attitude and could lead to improved confidence to make a diagnosis and treat CFS/ME patients.
PMID:
15805128
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Free full text http://fampra.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=15805128