Stephan P Keijmel1, Johanna Saxe2, Jos W M van der Meer3, Stephanie Nikolaus4, Mihai G Netea5, Gijs Bleijenberg6, Chantal P Bleeker-Rovers7, Hans Knoop8. 1. Radboud Expertise Centre for Q fever, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Expert Centre for Chronic Fatigue, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Stephan.Keijmel@radboudumc.nl. 2. Radboud Expertise Centre for Q fever, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j_saxe@gmx.de. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Jos.vanderMeer@radboudumc.nl. 4. Expert Centre for Chronic Fatigue, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Stephanie.Nikolaus@radboudumc.nl. 5. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Mihai.Netea@radboudumc.nl. 6. Expert Centre for Chronic Fatigue, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Gijs.Bleijenberg@radboudumc.nl. 7. Radboud Expertise Centre for Q fever, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Chantal.Bleeker-Rovers@radboudumc.nl. 8. Expert Centre for Chronic Fatigue, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Hans.Knoop@radboudumc.nl.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Comparison of Q fever fatigue syndrome (QFS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients, with a focus on markers of inflammation and fatigue-related cognitive-behavioural variables. METHODS: Data from two independent prospective studies on QFS (n=117) and CFS (n=173), respectively, were pooled and analyzed. RESULTS: QFS patients were less often female, had a higher BMI, and had less often received treatment for depression before the onset of symptoms. After controlling for symptom duration and correcting for differences in diagnostic criteria for QFS and CFS with respect to the level of impairment and the presence of additional symptoms, differences in the proportion of females and BMI remained significant. After correction, QFS patients were also significantly older. In all analyses QFS patients were as fatigued and distressed as CFS patients, but reported less additional symptoms. QFS patients had stronger somatic attributions, and higher levels of physical activity. No differences were found with regard to inflammatory markers and in other fatigue-related cognitive-behavioural variables. The relationship between cognitive-behavioural variables and fatigue, previously established in CFS, could not be confirmed in QFS patients with the exception of the negative relationship between physical activity and fatigue. CONCLUSION: Differences and similarities between QFS and CFS patients were found. Although the relationship between perpetuating factors and fatigue previously established in CFS could not be confirmed in QFS patients, the considerable overlap in fatigue-related cognitive-behavioural variables and the relationship found between physical activity and fatigue may suggest that behavioural interventions could reduce fatigue severity in QFS patients.
OBJECTIVE: Comparison of Q fever fatigue syndrome (QFS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients, with a focus on markers of inflammation and fatigue-related cognitive-behavioural variables. METHODS: Data from two independent prospective studies on QFS (n=117) and CFS (n=173), respectively, were pooled and analyzed. RESULTS: QFS patients were less often female, had a higher BMI, and had less often received treatment for depression before the onset of symptoms. After controlling for symptom duration and correcting for differences in diagnostic criteria for QFS and CFS with respect to the level of impairment and the presence of additional symptoms, differences in the proportion of females and BMI remained significant. After correction, QFS patients were also significantly older. In all analyses QFS patients were as fatigued and distressed as CFS patients, but reported less additional symptoms. QFS patients had stronger somatic attributions, and higher levels of physical activity. No differences were found with regard to inflammatory markers and in other fatigue-related cognitive-behavioural variables. The relationship between cognitive-behavioural variables and fatigue, previously established in CFS, could not be confirmed in QFS patients with the exception of the negative relationship between physical activity and fatigue. CONCLUSION: Differences and similarities between QFS and CFS patients were found. Although the relationship between perpetuating factors and fatigue previously established in CFS could not be confirmed in QFS patients, the considerable overlap in fatigue-related cognitive-behavioural variables and the relationship found between physical activity and fatigue may suggest that behavioural interventions could reduce fatigue severity in QFS patients.
Authors: Margreet Worm-Smeitink; Anthonie Janse; Arno van Dam; Andrea Evers; Rosalie van der Vaart; Michel Wensing; Hans Knoop Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2019-03-14 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Ruud P H Raijmakers; Anne F M Jansen; Stephan P Keijmel; Rob Ter Horst; Megan E Roerink; Boris Novakovic; Leo A B Joosten; Jos W M van der Meer; Mihai G Netea; Chantal P Bleeker-Rovers Journal: J Transl Med Date: 2019-05-14 Impact factor: 5.531
Authors: T A Kuut; F Müller; A Aldenkamp; E Assmann-Schuilwerve; A Braamse; S E Geerlings; K B Gibney; R A A Kanaan; P Nieuwkerk; T C Olde Hartman; D Pauëlsen; M Prins; K Slieker; M Van Vugt; C P Bleeker-Rovers; S P Keijmel; H Knoop Journal: Trials Date: 2021-12-02 Impact factor: 2.279
Authors: Ruud Raijmakers; Megan Roerink; Stephan Keijmel; Leo Joosten; Mihai Netea; Jos van der Meer; Hans Knoop; Hans Klein; Chantal Bleeker-Rovers; Janine Doorduin Journal: Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm Date: 2021-11-23
Authors: Ruud P H Raijmakers; Megan E Roerink; Anne F M Jansen; Stephan P Keijmel; Ranko Gacesa; Yang Li; Leo A B Joosten; Jos W M van der Meer; Mihai G Netea; Chantal P Bleeker-Rovers; Cheng-Jian Xu Journal: J Transl Med Date: 2020-11-26 Impact factor: 5.531