Table of Contents

Fatigue (CDC)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) symptom inventory for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME) is aimed to assess whether a person meets the CDC diagnostic criteria for (CFS)1) (section: diseases & symptoms).
Note that Lifelines also assesses (chronic) fatigue using the CIS and PROMIS instruments plus some general questions. An CFS diagnostic score according to the CDC has been developed and is available for use.

Background

Lifelines repeatedly assessed the presence of CFS/ME by self-report. However, recent studies indicate that this method misses ~90% of the CFS diagnoses2). The CDC symptom survey improves the identification of participants that meet the diagnostic criteria for CFS/ME by assessing the presence of individual symptoms rather than the disease itself.

The CDC symptom survey was developed in English and translated in Dutch 3).
The CDC symptom survey as used in Lifelines assesses 8 symptoms that are part of the diagnostic criteria for CSF, plus a question regarding depressive feelings in the last 6 months to increase the diagnostic value.
To assess fatigue, the core symptom of CFS, an additional question was asked in conjuction to the CDC (see here).

Validation

The validation of the CDC symptom survey is described here4)

Variables

Questions English Questions Dutch Code Variable Assessment Age
forgetfulness / how often did you have the complaints listed below in the past 6 months? vergeetachtigheid / hoe vaak hebt u de afgelopen 6 maanden last gehad van onderstaande klachten? cdc_forgetful_adu_q_01 CDC1 2A 3A NEXT 18+
forgetfulness / have you had these complaints for more than or less than 6 months? vergeetachtigheid / hebt u korter of langer dan 6 maanden last van deze klachten? cdc_forgetful_adu_q_01_a CDC1A 2A 3A NEXT 18+
problems concentrating / how often did you have the complaints listed below in the past 6 months? concentratieproblemen / hoe vaak hebt u de afgelopen 6 maanden last gehad van onderstaande klachten? cdc_concentration_adu_q_02 CDC2 2A 3A NEXT 18+
problems concentrating / have you had these complaints for more than or less than 6 months? concentratieproblemen / hebt u korter of langer dan 6 maanden last van deze klachten? cdc_concentration_adu_q_02_a CDC2A 2A 3A NEXT 18+
sore throat / how often did you have the complaints listed below in the past 6 months? keelpijn / hoe vaak hebt u de afgelopen 6 maanden last gehad van onderstaande klachten? cdc_sorethroat_adu_q_03 CDC3 2A 3A NEXT 18+
sore throat / have you had these complaints for more than or less than 6 months? keelpijn / hebt u korter of langer dan 6 maanden last van deze klachten? cdc_sorethroat_adu_q_03_a CDC3A 2A 3A NEXT 18+
tender neck or axillary nodes / how often did you have the complaints listed below in the past 6 months? gevoelige hals- of okselklieren / hoe vaak hebt u de afgelopen 6 maanden last gehad van onderstaande klachten? cdc_tendernodes_adu_q_04 CDC4 2A 3A NEXT 18+
tender neck or axillary nodes / have you had these complaints for more than or less than 6 months? gevoelige hals- of okselklieren / hebt u korter of langer dan 6 maanden last van deze klachten? cdc_tendernodes_adu_q_04_a CDC4A 2A 3A NEXT 18+
sore muscles / how often did you have the complaints listed below in the past 6 months? spierpijn / hoe vaak hebt u de afgelopen 6 maanden last gehad van onderstaande klachten? cdc_musclepain_adu_q_05 CDC5 2A 3A NEXT 18+
sore muscles / have you had these complaints for more than or less than 6 months? spierpijn / hebt u korter of langer dan 6 maanden last van deze klachten? cdc_musclepain_adu_q_05_a CDC5A 2A 3A NEXT 18+
painful joints / how often did you have the complaints listed below in the past 6 months? pijnlijke gewrichten / hoe vaak hebt u de afgelopen 6 maanden last gehad van onderstaande klachten? cdc_jointpain_adu_q_06 CDC6 2A 3A NEXT 18+
painful joints / have you had these complaints for more than or less than 6 months? pijnlijke gewrichten / hebt u korter of langer dan 6 maanden last van deze klachten? cdc_jointpain_adu_q_06_a CDC6A 2A 3A NEXT 18+
headache / how often did you have the complaints listed below in the past 6 months? hoofdpijn / hoe vaak hebt u de afgelopen 6 maanden last gehad van onderstaande klachten? cdc_headache_adu_q_07 CDC7 2A 3A NEXT 18+
headache / have you had these complaints for more than or less than 6 months? hoofdpijn / hebt u korter of langer dan 6 maanden last van deze klachten? cdc_headache_adu_q_07_a CDC7A 2A 3A NEXT 18+
waking up not feeling rested / how often did you have the complaints listed below in the past 6 months? niet uitgerust wakker worden / hoe vaak hebt u de afgelopen 6 maanden last gehad van onderstaande klachten? cdc_notrested_adu_q_08 CDC8 2A 3A NEXT 18+
waking up not feeling rested / have you had these complaints for more than or less than 6 months? niet uitgerust wakker worden / hebt u korter of langer dan 6 maanden last van deze klachten? cdc_notrested_adu_q_08_a CDC8A 2A 3A NEXT 18+
worsening of complaints after physical activity / how often did you have the complaints listed below in the past 6 months? toename van klachten na lichamelijke inspanning / hoe vaak hebt u de afgelopen 6 maanden last gehad van onderstaande klachten? cdc_complaints_adu_q_09 CDC9 2A 3A NEXT 18+
worsening of complaints after physical activity / have you had these complaints for more than or less than 6 months? toename van klachten na lichamelijke inspanning / hebt u korter of langer dan 6 maanden last van deze klachten? cdc_complaints_adu_q_09_a CDC9A 2A 3A NEXT 18+
depressed feelings / how often did you have the complaints listed below in the past 6 months? depressieve gevoelens / hoe vaak hebt u de afgelopen 6 maanden last gehad van onderstaande klachten? cdc_depressive_adu_q_10 CDC10 2A 3A NEXT 18+
depressed feelings / have you had these complaints for more than or less than 6 months? depressieve gevoelens / hebt u korter of langer dan 6 maanden last van deze klachten? cdc_depressive_adu_q_10_a CDC10A 2A 3A NEXT 18+
1)
van't Leven M et al. (2010). Fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome-like complaints in the general population. European Journal of Public Health 20: 251-257
2)
Warren JW, Clauw DJ (2012). Functional somatic syndromes: sensitivities and specificities of self-reports of physician diagnosis. Psychosomatic Medicine 74(9):891-895
3)
Ruud CW Vermeulen (2006) Translation and validation of the Dutch language version of the CDC Symptom Inventory for assessment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Population Health Metrics 4(12)
4)
Wagner et al. (2005) Psychometric properties of the CDC Symptom Inventory for assessment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Population Health Metrics 3(8)